Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has been contracted to build two additional Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) multipurpose combat ships for the Italian Navy.
The vessels will replace a pair previously earmarked for the Indonesian Navy.
The contract, managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, has Fincantieri as the lead contractor, with Leonardo as a partner.
The ships will be delivered in the “light plus” configuration in 2029 and 2030, respectively. Construction will take place at Fincantieri’s integrated shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano.
The project is estimated to cost approximately 700 million euros ($810 million), which includes work already carried out on the vessels destined for Indonesia.
“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
Designed to replace the Italian Navy’s four Soldati-class light patrol frigates and eight Minerva-class corvettes, four PPA vessels have been delivered so far.
A PPA is 143 meters (469 feet) long and can sail at a top speed of 31 knots (57.4 kilometers/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.
