FREMM production continuity and parent-design risk

The competition required a parent design already built and in service as a way to reduce risk. That rule excluded Type 26 and helps explain why the Spanish candidate was F-100 rather than the newer F-110. MEKO A200 offered a design family intended for adaptation to different buyers, while the LCS derivatives would need substantial changes to become frigates. The Italian FREMM had an established production line and experience across successive variants. One explanation offered for its selection is that this production continuity mattered more than how closely it matched the full US capability list. That remains an interpretation of the choice. A mature parent could reduce some acquisition risks while still demanding extensive work to accommodate US systems and operating requirements.