Fincantieri Commences Work On Italian Navy’s First FREMM EVO Frigate

Fincantieri has begun building the Italian Navy’s first of the two next-generation FREMM frigates, also called ‘EVOLUTION’ version or FREMM EVO.

A steel-cutting event was held at the Genoa shipyard.

The contract for these two FREMM EVO ships was signed in July 2024 by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, a joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo, and the Organisation Conjoine de Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR).

The agreement, part of the FREEMM Programme, is an effort between Italy and France to build 21 FREMM frigates for their navies.

These vessels would be 140 m long, 20 m wide and have a 6000-ton displacement. They will accommodate 108 officers and crew.

The first unit of the FREMM EVO will be delivered in 2029, with the second one in 2030.

They will be equipped with new technology, anti-drone systems and the ability to manage uncrewed systems above the surface, on the sea and below the surface.

The frigates will have modern equipment and maintenance plans, to ensure high operational efficiency.

They are also equipped with new defence programmes and the Mid Life upgrade project for destroyers of the Horizon class.

The upgrades will focus on the ship management system, the air-conditioning and sustainable solutions for the platform system.

The vessels would be fitted with the modern combat system SADOC 4 cuber-resilient, dual-band X-C fixed-face radar sensors for TBM threat defence, artillery, missile systems, sonar suite and tactical data connections.

References: Defensehere, The Defense Post

Source: Maritime Shipping News