Fincantieri splashes seventh PPA for Italian Navy

The launch of the seventh PPA (multipurpose combat ship) Domenico Millelire took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Genova) on July 13, 2024.

This vessel is part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Government and Parliament under the aegis of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for cooperation on arms).

The PPA has the capacity to serve multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to civil protection operations and, in its most highly equipped version, a first-line fighting vessel, the company said.

According to Fincantieri, there will be different configurations of combat systems: starting from a “soft” version for the patrol task, integrated for self-defense ability, to a “full” one, equipped for a complete defense ability.

The vessel is also capable of operating high-speed vessels such as RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) up to 11 meters long through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern.

Some of the other characteristics include:

• 143 meters long;
• Speed more than 31 knots;
• 171 persons of the crew;
• It is equipped with a combined diesel, a gas turbine plant (CODAG) and an electric propulsion system.

The PPA ships are built at the Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano with deliveries expected until 2026.