Within the renewal plan of the Italian Navy’s fleet, whose first
tranche started in the past months, OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de
Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for
cooperation on arms) has ordered the consortium (Raggruppamento Temporaneo
di Impresa - RTI) consisting of Fincantieri, agent, and Finmeccanica,
through its subsidiary Selex ES, principal, one more patrol vessel (PPA
or Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship), activating the related contract
option and merging the production in an immediately operational single-step
transition. |
Hence,
the number of patrol vessels ordered to RTI rises to seven. The six
previous ones were assigned in May, and other three units still are
in option. The delivery of the first patrol vessel is expected in 2021.
The delivery of the following patrol vessels is planned for 2022, 2023,
2024 (two units), 2025 and 2026.
In addition to the seven PPAs, it is also planned the construction of
one logistic support unit (LSS or Logistic Support Ship), and one multipurpose
amphibious unit (LHD or Landing Helicopter Dock), both already contractualised,
the latter one through a public contract with the Italian Ministry of
Defence.
The contracts assigned to RTI therefore reach a total amount of approx.
5.4 billion euros, of which Fincantieri’s share amounts to approx.
3.6 billion euros and the one of Finmeccanica to approx. 1.8 billion
euros. The award of the operative contracts regarding the first tranche
of the multi-year program for the renewal of the Navy’s Fleet
(known as the "Defence Act") is thus completed.
The fundamental characteristic common to all three classes of ships
is their high level of innovation providing them with a considerable
degree of efficiency, flexibility and capability of re-configuration
in serving different mission profiles. In particular, these are dual
use vessels, meaning that they may be used for both standard military
purposes and for civil protection and rescue at sea operations, and
they also have a low environmental impact thanks to a state-of-the-art
auxiliary propulsion system generating a low level of pollution emissions
(electric engines) and biological waste control system.
The consortium (RTI) was established according to the cooperation agreement
in the field of naval vessels construction signed in October 2014 between
Fincantieri and Finmeccanica. Pursuant to the agreement, Fincantieri
acts as a sole interface to the client, while enhancing Finmeccanica’s
products range in the naval field. According to the agreement Finmeccanica
is the design authority of the whole combat system.
In addition to building the vessels at its shipyards, Fincantieri will
provide support over the lifecycle of the vessels in the first ten years,
through the supply of logistic services (training courses, spare parts,
technical documentation) during the construction of the vessels and
of ISS or In Service Support (maintenance services), carried out during
post-delivery operations, as well as components and naval machinery
produced by the Marine Systems and Components Unit, such as shaft lines,
wheelhouse, maneuvering propellers, fin stabilizers and other handling
systems, the automation system and a part of the special supplies for
PPAs delivered by the subsidiary Seastema S.p.A.
Finmeccanica will act as prime contractor for the combat systems through
Selex ES that will develop and provide the new multi-functional radars
(4 fixed arrays) dual-band X/C, last generation integrated communication
systems, new electro-optical sensors, new fire control systems and innovative
Open Architecture Combat Management System. Selex ES will also have
the responsibility for all subsystems - included those newly developed
by OTO Melara (76mm gun above deck), WASS (sonar array), MBDA (anti-ballistic
missile system) and Elettronica (electronic warfare system) - and for
the first 10-year logistic support (integrated and “in service”
logistic support).
In addition, Selex ES and Fincantieri will develop together the innovative
“Cockpit” system. This system will, for the first time ever,
allow for the integrated management of sailing and combat system operations,
using augmented reality to allow both functions to be effectively managed
with fewer operators.
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The
Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura - PPA
