One of the most important contemporary shipbuilding programs of the Italian Navy started this month, when OCCAR (Organisation conjointe de coopération en matière d’armement) signed the order of contractual performance for the construction of six PPA vessels (Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura – Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ships) and one LLS (Logistic Support Ship), with an option for the construction of four more PPA vessels in the future.
According to the Italian Navy two versions of the PPA vessels will be constructed, the Light Version and the Full Combat Version. Both versions will have dual use features, since they have been designed in-house by the Navy, to be used for military missions, as well as to provide support to Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance Operations.
Thanks to its remarkable capabilities in terms of flexibility and modularity, the PPA vessel represent the best example of a one-size-fits-all warship.
Strong dual use marked by two modular sections of the PPA vessel, one at the mid ship and the other one at the stern, enable the ship to carry different cargo depending on the missions.
For example the Light Version vessel, can participate in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance Operations, carrying vehicles or cargo containers at the mid ship zone, while at the stern section, temporary hospital facility, electrical power/drinkable water ashore, anti-pollution equipment.
In a combat mission the Full Combat Version can carry at the mid ship zone, special operations equipment such as, RHIBs or Special Forces boats, or even combined containers load.
At the first Phase of the program, the Italian Shipyards Fincantieri, will build in association with the Italian company Finmeccanica, five Light Version PPA vessels and one Full Combat Version PPA vessel.
The total cost of the shipbuilding program for the six PPA vessels and the Logistic Support Ship is 3.5 billion euros, of which Fincantieri’s share amounts to approximately 2.3 billion euros and Finmeccanica’s (with its subsidiaries Selex, WASS, MBDA Italia and Oto-Melara), about 1,2 billion euros. The program includes in service support for ten years.
The first PPA vessel will be delivered in 2021, the second in 2022, the third in 2023 the fourth and the fifth in 2024 and the final one in 2025. The Logistic Support Ship will be delivered in 2019.
The new PPA vessels, both Light and Full Combat Versions, will replace eventually 15 Offshore Patrol Vessels and two Guided Missile Destroyers of the Italian Navy. These are:
- Five Minerva-class corvettes
- Four Cassiopea-class corvettes
- Two Sirio-class corvettes
- Four Comandati-class corvettes and finally
- Two Durand de la Penne-class Guided Missile Destroyers.
According to available information, the technical characteristics of the Light Version of the PPA vessel are:
- Displacement: 4,500 ton (f.l.)
- Length: 135 m
- Width: 16,5 m
- Propulsion: CODAG propulsion system (two Diesel engines + one Gas Turbine)
- Speed: 25 kts cruiser speed (with Diesels engines only), 34/35 kts max speed (with gas turbines)
- Range: 5,000 miles to 15 kts
- Crew: 135, accommodation for 170+30
- Internal area for UAV, UUV or other modular systems (MHC, rescue and relief, emergency hospital, etc.)
Armament:
- One OTO Melara 127/64 mm Vulcano
- One OTO Melara 76/62 mm Strales overdeck
- Two OTO Melara KBA 25/80 mm
- Two OTO Melara Decoy Launch Systems
- Available space for 16 new VLS AAW CAMM-ER missiles, under development by MBDA Italia
- Available space for four double launchers x Teseo Mk2/A SSM
- Hangar for two helicopters, EH-101 and NH-90
Sensors and processing systems:
- MFRA AESA Kronos C-band radar, with four fixed arrays mounted on the topside of the vessel, from Selex ES
- SAAM-ESD CMS
- CIC and Bridge integration
- Conformal IFF, from Selex ES
- Solid IRST
- ESM
- Tri-band satellite communications system, from Selex ES
Regarding the Full Combat Version of the PPA vessel, the technical characteristics of the ship according to available information are:
- Displacement: 4,600 ton (f.l.)
- Length: 135 m
- Width: 16,5 m
- Propulsion: CODAG propulsion system
- Speed: 25 kts cruiser speed (with diesels engines only), 34/35 kts max speed (with gas turbines)
- Range: 5,000 miles to 15 kts
- Crew: 150, accommodation for 170+30
- Internal area for UAV, UUV or other modular systems (MHC, rescue and relief, emergency hospital, etc.)
Armament:
- One OTO Melara 127/64 mm Vulcano
- Eight VLS A50 for Aster 15 and 30 Block 1 missiles
- 24 x new VLS AAW CAMM-ER missiles, under development by MBDA Italia
- Four double launchers x Teseo Mk2/A SSM
- Containerized sonar and torpedo launch system
- Two OTO Melara KBA 25/80 mm
- Two OTO Melara Decoy Launch Systems
- Hangar for two helicopters, EH-101 and NH-90
Sensors and processing systems:
- MFRA AESA Kronos C-band radar, with four fixed arrays mounted on the topside of the vessel, from Selex ES
- New X-band AESA radar with four fixed arrays mounted on the topside of the vessel, from Selex ES
- CIC and Bridge integration
- Conformal IFF, from Selex ES
- Solid IRST
- ESM
- Tri-band satellite communications system, from Selex ES
The Logistic Support Ship will be capable of supporting a naval operations, disaster relief operations, to provide medical support, to transport naval and aviation fuel, fresh water, ammunitions, lubricating oil, food, spare parts and 20 ft ISO containers.
The Logistic Support Ship program includes the development and construction of one ship and the in service support for ten years.