Today Riva Trigoso (Genoa) shipyard celebrated the launch of the frigate
“Alpino”, the fifth of a series of 10 FREMM vessels - Multi
Mission European Frigates, ordered from Fincantieri by the Italian Navy
within the framework of an Italo-French program of cooperation. |
Godmother
to the ship was Ms. Maria Rosa Solimano, cousin of Francesco Solimano
awarded with the Gold Medal of Military Valor.
Present at the ceremony were, among others, Claudio Burlando, Governor
of Liguria, Senator Nicola Latorre, Chairman of the 4^ Senate's Defence
Committee, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, Italian Chief of Defence,
Lieutenant General Claudio Graziano, Italian Army Chief of Staff, Admiral
Giuseppe De Giorgi, Italian Navy Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General
Enzo Stefanini, Secretary General of Defence and National Armaments
Director, Giovanni Gorno Tempini, CEO of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti,
Vincenzo Petrone and Giuseppe Bono, respectively Chairman and CEO of
Fincantieri.
The vessel, which is due for delivery in early 2016 in Muggiano (La
Spezia), will feature a high degree of flexibility, capable of operating
in all tactical situations. The ship, 144 metres long with a beam of
19.7 metres, will have a displacement at full load of approximately
6,700 tonnes. The “Alpino” will have a maximum speed of
over 27 knots and will provide accommodation for a crew of 200.
The ships in the FREMM program represent the state of the art of European
and Italian defence in the Mediterranean and will replace the “Lupo”
and “Maestrale” class frigates built by Fincantieri in the
1970s.
Participating in the initiative as prime contractor for Italy is Orizzonte
Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri, 49% Finmeccanica) and, as prime contractor
for France, Armaris (DCNS + Thales).
The cooperation has drawn of the highly positive experience of the previous
Italo-French program “Orizzonte” under which two frigates
were built for the Italian Navy, the ”Andrea Doria” and
the “Caio Duilio”. |
