2nd shipyard for FFG-62 program?

Fincantieri Marinette (Wis.) Marine “can meet the demand” of the Constellation-class frigate program (FFG-62) for the time being, according to Capt. Kevin Smith, the Navy's program manager. But the sea-service is still deciding whether to select a second contractor for the 20-ship class. Capt. Smith told attendees at the Sea Air Space exposition April 5 that when the time is right, the Navy plans to purchase the ship’s technical data package from Fincantieri and start qualifying alternate shipyards once ready to move forward, if senior leadership chooses. A technical data package is a set of blueprints that the government would need to provide an alternative contractor. On a base level, the Navy's incentive to establish a second shipyard comes with the ability to produce ships more quickly and adds a level of stability to the supply chain - if production at one yard stops for any reason. A new contractor could complicate the program and the Navy must consider whether future budgets will support enough work for both shipyards. Lawmakers’ appetite for a second shipyard are mixed - funding costs but more jobs for constituents - a positive for states with major shipyards such as Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., General Dynamics Bath (Maine) Iron Works and Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Miss. FY 2022 spending bill language indicate some on Capitol Hill about adding a second yard too early could lead to costly mistakes in the future. (Source: Breaking Devfense 04/06/22) A second FFG-62 shipyard? Fincantieri 'can meet demand' for now - Breaking Defense