Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has been contracted to build two more Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) multipurpose combat ships for the Italian Navy.
To be built at an approximate cost of 700 million euros ($810 million), the vessels will replace the pair previously earmarked for the Indonesian Navy.
The amount includes work already carried out on the vessels destined for Indonesia.
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation will manage the contract with Fincantieri as the lead contractor and Leonardo as partner.
They will be delivered in the “light plus” configuration in 2029 and 2030, respectively.
Construction will take place at Fincantieri’s integrated shipyard in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano.
“This contract confirms the strategic importance of the program, highlighting our Group’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to the operational needs of the Italian Navy,” CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero stated.
“The new units bolster the national supply chain, ensuring production continuity and employment stability, while also strengthening Italy’s role as a central player in the global defense geopolitical landscape, where shipbuilding is increasingly a key element of influence and international cooperation.”
Multipurpose Combat Ships
The planned replacement for the four Soldati-class light patrol frigates and eight Minerva-class corvettes, a total of four PPA vessels have been delivered to the Italian Navy thus far.
A PPA is 143 meters (469 feet) long and can sail at a top speed of 31 knots (57.4 kilometers per hour/36 miles per hour).
It is manned by a crew of 171 and equipped with a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant and an electric propulsion system.
The multi-purpose vessel’s mission range includes sea rescue patrol missions, civil protection operations, and acting as a first-line combat vessel.
The program allows for the integration of additional capabilities onto the ships over time, with self-defense capabilities for the patrol version and complete defense capabilities for a “full” version.
