Italian Navy takes delivery of 9th FREMM frigate from Fincantieri’s OSN

Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), a joint venture owned by Fincantieri and Leonardo, has delivered the multi-role frigate Spartaco Schergat to the Italian Navy, the ninth in a series of ten new European multi-mission frigates (FREMM).

As informed, Orizzonte Sistemi Navali was commissioned as the prime contractor and whole warship and combat system design authority under the Italian-French international cooperation agreement. The contract was signed with Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR).

The FREMM program, which began in 2005 with the first ship delivered in 2012, includes the construction of various frigate types, including general purpose, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and enhanced anti-submarine units. The FREMM EVO ships represent an evolution of the enhanced anti-submarine warfare configuration.

These new vessels, with a length of 144 meters and a width of 19.7 meters, will have a full-load displacement of approximately 6,700 tons. They are designed to achieve speeds exceeding 27 knots and accommodate up to 200 personnel.

The ships will be equipped with advanced systems from Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA, and Elettronica, providing operational flexibility across various tactical scenarios. A significant focus has been placed on integrating a high level of automation into onboard systems to enhance operational availability and streamline maintenance.

Design efforts have also included extensive human factors studies to optimize workspaces for different operational requirements. The ships will feature extended autonomy, with a range of approximately 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, and logistical capabilities for prolonged operations.

The first of the two units, Spartaco Schergat, is designed as a multi-role vessel, combining features from both the general purpose and ASW versions. This configuration aims to provide a balanced contribution across combat domains, with a particular emphasis on enhanced anti-submarine capabilities.

The ship is also intended to serve as a command center for joint and combined operations, supporting sea control, maritime communications line protection, and naval interdiction.

This month, Fincantieri held a steel-cutting ceremony for the first of two next-generation FREMM frigates of the EVOLUTION version, FREMM EVO.