Fincantieri Delivers 9th FREMM Frigate To Italian Navy

ORIZZONTE Sistemi Navali (OSN), a joint venture owned by Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), delivered the multi-role frigate Spartaco Schergat to the Italian Navy Today at Fincantieri’s Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard. It is the ninth in a series of ten FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigates) commissioned to OSN as Prime Contractor, Whole Warship and Combat System Design Authority under the Italian-French international cooperation agreement, and whose contract was signed with OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement).

The ceremony was attended by General Manager of Fincantieri’s Naval Vessels Division Dario Deste, CEO of OSN Giovanni Sorrentino, OCCAR Director General Joachim Sucker, Commander of the Interregional Maritime Command South Admiral Vincenzo Montanaro, Director of Naval Armaments Adm Giuseppe Abbamonte and DGA representative General Francois Watteau.

The new unit, built at the Fincantieri Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, is equipped with the most advanced systems produced by Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA, and Elettronica. The FREMM offers high operational flexibility and is capable of operating in all tactical scenarios. The ship is 144 meters long, 19.7 meters wide, and has a full- load displacement of approximately 6,700 tons. It can reach a speed of over 27 knots and accommodate up to 200 people on board.

Spartaco Schergat, the first of the two units in the Enhanced ASW configuration, is optimised as a multi-role vessel, incorporating systems typical of both the General Purpose and ASW versions. It supplies enhanced ASW capabilities for sea control operations, maritime communications line protection, and naval interdiction. It will also be able to serve as a complex command centre, managing joint and combined operations.

The FREMM programme launched in 2005 delivered the first vessel in July 2012, is the most significant joint initiative developed among European industries in the naval sector and represents the cutting edge of Italian and European defence. It envisages the supply of four General Purpose Units, four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) units, and two Enhanced Anti-Submarine units. As part of this programme, two next-generation FREMM frigates in the “EVOLUTION” version – known as “FREMM EVO” – are currently under construction at the Riva Trigoso and Muggiano shipyards with deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030.

These ships’ innovative and cyber-resilient characteristics are the result of significant design, organisational, and management efforts. A high level of automation has been integrated into next-generation onboard systems, used for all onboard services. This approach contributes to ensuring high operational availability, supported by an optimised maintenance profile. Extensive Human Factors studies have guided the design to create more efficient and optimised workspaces tailored to various operational needs. The ship also features extended autonomy (approximately 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots) and logistical standards suitable for prolonged operations, even outside the broader Mediterranean area.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:FINCANTIERI)