Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri launched the Italian Navy’s eighth FREMM frigate ‘Antonio Marceglia’ (F-597) at its Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa on February 3.
The eighth of a series of 10 FREMM vessels was launched during a ceremony attended by Italian defense minister Roberta Pinotti and, on behalf of the chief of defense, General Claudio Graziano, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Admiral Valter Girardelli.
Godmother of the ceremony was Silvia Marceglia, niece of the Golden Medal for Military Value recipient Antonio Marceglia.
After the launch, fitting activities will continue in the Integrated naval shipyard of Muggiano (La Spezia), with delivery scheduled in 2019.
FREMM frigates are being built by Italy and France under the framework of an Italo-French cooperation program under the coordination of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for cooperation on arms).
Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri, 49% Leonardo) acts as prime contractor for Italy in the initiative, while Armaris (Naval Group + Thales) is prime contractor for France. The French Navy’s sixth FREMM frigate was floated out on February 1.
According to Leonardo, the Italian frigates are equipped with KRONOS Grand Naval multi-function active radar, IFF SIR-M5-PA secondary radar and RAN-30X/I air and surface surveillance, LPI SPN-730 navigation radar and SPN-720 for helicopter precision approach, SASS (Silent Acquisition and Surveillance system) infrared tracking system and, finally, equipped with two multi-sensors (radar and electro-optical) for NA-25X fire control. Leonardo has also realised the integrated internal, external and tactical communication systems for the FREMM frigates.
Leonardo also provides two 76/62 mm Super Rapid defense systems that use the DART guided ammunition for tracking targets, the anti-mine sonar (Mine Avoidance Sonar), acoustic countermeasures against attacks by torpedoes (Decoy Launching System) and the MU90 lightweight torpedo launching system (Torpedo Launching System).
The Italian Navy has received six vessels in the class so far while the ninth and tenth frigate, the final two ordered, are scheduled to be delivered after 2020.