Italian Navy commissions three offshore patrol vessels to Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), a joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo for €925 million. OSN has signed a contract with the Italian Secretariat General of Defence and National Armaments Directorate for the construction of three next-generation patrol vessels as part of the Italian Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel acquisition program. The contract includes options for three more vessels and infrastructural upgrades for the shipyards in Augusta, Cagliari, and Messina.
The OPV program aims to enhance combat capabilities, survivability, and long-range and anti-pollution missions. The new patrol vessels will be approximately 95 metres long, with a displacement of 2,300 tonnes and the capacity to accommodate 97 crew members. A notable innovation is the “naval cockpit,” inspired by the Italian Navy’s Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessels (PPAs), which enables basic steering and combat functions with minimal crew. An integrated workstation, co-produced by Leonardo and Fincantieri NexTech, will allow ship and aeronaval operations to be controlled by only two operators, the pilot and copilot, who will serve as the officer of the watch on the bridge and commander, managing machinery, rudders, platform systems, and some combat functions from this position.
Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
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