Defense company Leonardo and Intermarine (IMMSI industrial group) have signed a contract to supply the Italian Navy with five next-generation minehunters.
As disclosed, the contract was signed with the Directorate of Naval Armaments of the General Secretariat of Defence and National Armaments Directorate for the procurement of Vessels for research and clearance of sea mines – New Generation Minehunters/Coastal (NGM/C), and related integrated logistical support.
The value of the deal is €1.6 billion for the construction of five units and approximately €1 billion in options for the completion of the program.
With a length of approximately 63 meters and a displacement of approximately 1,300 tonnes, the NGM/C will be distinguished by their capacity for conducting mine countermeasures operations inside the minefields.
The contract is a result of a process characterized by massive investments in research and development on new materials and innovative and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.
It follows an intense preliminary studies activity following the contract signed in 2021 between Intermarine and the Directorate of Naval Armaments, focused on “Risk reduction studies and definition of the NGM Vessel project”.
The companies noted that thanks to the new generation minehunters program, the Italian Navy will rely on “innovative minehunters with the most modern construction techniques and advanced combat system based on high level of integration and automation of operations”.
Furthermore, the vessels will represent “a unique and most modern solution worldwide” in terms of operational capabilities in the specialistic sector of seabed surveillance and protection of critical underwater infrastructures.
The program aims to avoid the capability gap and start the enhancement of the National Mine Countermeasures National Component at a time marked by increasing international tensions and growing threats posed in the maritime domain, above and under the surface, as experienced in the recent ongoing conflicts in the areas of national strategic interest (Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Baltic Sea).
The ships will be able to perform a wide spectrum of missions. In addition to the constabulary roles of search and clearance operations, they will carry on the seabed surveillance operations for the control and protection of critical underwater infrastructures (i.e., oil and gas pipelines, and maritime data networks) and the protection of cultural heritage and the marine environment.
The vessels will be constructed at the intermarine shipyard facilities in Sarzana (La Spezia).
The entire combat system, composed of the cyber-resilient SADOC 4 command and control system, advanced radar and electro-optical sensors, a new broadband sonar with mine detection and classification capabilities, as well as an integrated multi – communications bandwidth and data link to ensure the highest and most effective level of interoperability, will be produced and supplied by Leonardo.