Know More About Italy’s New Innovative Naval Vessels.

(Photo: Ufficio Stampa – Marina Militare)

The Italian Navy has released fresh details about its seven new, multifunctional ships as it seeks to wrap up a system design review (SDR) of the innovative vessels by the end of June. As planners mull the use of a Google Glass-type kit for navigators on the bridge, they have also opted for a so-called wave piercing bow, which is expected to add almost a knot in speed.

With industry contracts signed last year thanks to a €5.4 billion (US $6.1 billion) funding package, the Navy now hopes it is on course to have its seven, 4,500-ton, 133-meter-long vessels delivered between 2021 and 2026.

Conceived with a hefty input from the Navy’s own design office, the vessels will be given dual role capabilities to help assist in civilian disaster operations or the interception of migrants in the Mediterranean, as well as fight wars.

The SDR is set to be completed by the end of this month — with some fine tuning on genset options to be made — and a critical design review is planned for February, an Italian defense source said. Before then, steel cutting on the first ship by state-controlled shipbuilding yard Fincantieri is expected in the autumn.

The Light vessels, artist's impression shown, will offer an X-band AESA radar, which uses four flat panels, giving a 360-degree view housed above the bridge. (Photo: Ufficio Stampa – Marina Militare)

Another plan is to develop Google Glass-type glasses linked to external cameras, which would allow navigators to have a 360-degree view of the outside of the ship.

“This type of study will likely continue beyond the critical design review next year,” the source said.

Much of the lobbying to secure the funding for the PPA vessels was undertaken by Navy Adm. Giuseppe De Giorgi, earning him kudos in the Navy but also attention from the media when he was placed under investigation earlier this year for corruption.

Magistrates suspected he had deliberately handed a contract to an entrepreneur who is the partner of the head of Italy’s industry ministry, who authorized the €5.4 billion in funds.

As news of the investigation broke, an anonymous dossier was sent to prosecutors accusing the admiral of spending funds on excessive entertaining. De Gregori denied he had been seeking to win favors at the ministry and gave a blistering speech on June 22 in which he blasted his critics at a ceremony where he handed over control of the Navy to the service’s new chief, Vice Adm. Walter Girardelli.

“Our navigation has not always been calm — you know what I am talking about,” he said, describing his years in office. The admiral then claimed “dark forces” had sent the dossier “in a bid to shape the future of the Navy.”

Source of Information: DefenseNews