Britain's BAE Wins $25.7 billion Australian Frigate Contest

Britain's BAE Systems PLC has won a A$35 billion ($25.7 billion) contest to deliver anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Australian Navy, the Australian government said on Thursday.

The nine ships, to be designed by BAE and built by government-owned ASC Shipbuilding in Australia are expected to underpin the country's maritime combat capability for decades to come, the Australian government said in a statement.

BAE beat Italy's Fincantieri SpA and Spain's Navantia SA for the prized contract.

Reporting by Jamie Freed in Singapore