TSAMTO, September 29. Italy has launched one of the most important modernization programs for the country's Navy, which provides for the purchase of two new generation DDX destroyers.
Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), a joint venture between Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), has signed a contract with the Organization for Arms Cooperation (OCCAR) providing for the development, construction, testing, delivery and initial support of two new generation DDX-class destroyers for the Italian Navy.
The total value of the contract is about 3.7 billion. euros (including options worth about 1.3 billion euros ). euro). As part of this program, OSN will sign subcontracting contracts with Fincantieri companies worth about 1.8 billion in the coming weeks. euros (of which about 800 million euros are accounted for by options) and Leonardo worth about 1.7 billion euros. euros (of which about 480 million euros are options).
The signing of the contract is the official start of one of the most important modernization programs of the Italian Navy. The new ships will replace the Durand de la Penne-class destroyers in service.
It is assumed that the DDX program will allow a qualitative change in the capabilities of the Italian Navy in the field of air and missile defense, providing a significant technological leap. The task will be solved both through the platform itself (developed by Fincantieri as a system integrator, with the introduction of advanced digital technologies) and the combat system created by Leonardo. The new ships will be designed to operate as part of multinational forces and will feature a high level of digitalization, automation, and integration of various systems: detection, weapons, combat control, and communications (C5I) systems.
The key innovations of the destroyers include a DC power supply subnet with an appropriate energy storage system, an innovative stabilization system, new algorithms and methods for calculating thermal and electrical balances, as well as further digitalization of the ship's control system.
As for the combat system, thanks to the new-generation SADOC 5 C5I complex, the S-band active phased array (AFAR) digital radar and the MBDA weapons system, the ships will have enhanced air defense/missile defense capabilities. This will ensure full multi-domain compatibility, which is the basis of Leonardo's Michelangelo project technology concept.
The construction of the two ships will be carried out by Fincantieri and Leonardo companies using the design, development and production experience gained during the creation of high-tech warships. The delivery of the destroyers to the customer is scheduled for 2033 and 2035.
As CAMTO reported, in December 2021, the Directorate of Naval Armaments of the Italian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with OSN to conduct a study to reduce risks and determine the appearance of the DDX project ship. The purpose of the agreement was to refine important technologies, clarify project concepts and reduce integration risks before making a decision on the transition to mass production.
According to Fincantieri, the DDX destroyer will be 180 m long, have a displacement of 13,500 tons, a range of 4,000 nautical miles, and a crew of 251 people.
