Image source: topwar.ru
On September 24, the Italian Ministry of Defense signed a contract worth €3.7 billion euros with a consortium of local companies Fincantieri and Leonardo for the design and construction of new generation ships under the DDX program. Western observers note the scale of the task:
The ship with a displacement of 13.5 thousand tons and a length of 180 m is being created as a "surface arsenal of weapons". It will receive huge S-band AFAR radars to detect threats. 48 Sylver A50 cells will be loaded with Aster 15, Aster 30 missiles and the latest Aster 30 Block 1 NT interceptors. According to the developer, the latter are capable of shooting down ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
Image Source: topwar.ru
In terms of strike weapons, the ship will be equipped with 32 Sylver A70 cells for long-range cruise missiles, the SCALP Naval (MdCN), designed to strike ground targets deep into enemy territory.
The anti–ship complex will feature 8 MBDA Teseo Mk2 Evolved heavy anti-ship missiles, artillery - one Leonardo 127mm/64 cannon (with the ability to fire high-precision guided Vulcano projectiles at a range of up to 100 km) and 3 Sovraponte 76-mm rapid-firing guns with integrated anti-aircraft missile defense systems and guided DART projectiles. The 324 mm torpedo tubes for MU-90 torpedoes and two AW101 or NH90 helicopters located in the hangar will be responsible for the PLO.
Due to the huge displacement, the ship will become a noticeable target, so its protection is brought to a fundamentally new level. The Italian defense giant ELT Group (Elettronica) is fully responsible for electronic warfare and "jammers", which is to supply a new integrated electronic warfare system (a deep evolution of the Virgilius/Zeus system).
Image source: topwar.ru
All the described "stuffing" will be tied to the SADOC 5 combat control system, which will turn the destroyer into a headquarters ship capable of coordinating the actions of an entire group of allied ships in real time.
The ship will receive a combined diesel-gas turbine and electric installation (CODOGAL scheme). For maximum speed, gas turbines (probably the American General Electric LM2500+) will be installed on it, which will accelerate to more than 30 knots. For economical travel and stealth, the ship will be equipped with modern diesel engines and electric motors.
A detailed technical design phase is planned for 2026-2028. The laying of hulls at the Fincantieri shipyards is expected in the late 2020s, the delivery of the lead destroyer in 2033, and the transfer of the second ship in 2035. In total, the Italian Navy plans to receive two such pennants, but they have put an option on two more.
