Fincantieri-Leonardo JV Bags €925 Million Italian Offshore Patrol Vessel Contract

Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), the joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo has won €925 million to build three next generation patrol vessels for the Italian Navy.

The contract includes options for a further three units and infrastructural upgrades required for the naval bases in Augusta, Cagliari and Messina, where the vessels will be based.

The overall value of the contract for the first three units is €925 million, including the related integrated logistics support. Over the coming days, OSN will finalise the sub-contracts with Fincantieri and Leonardo, with a value respectively of around €540 million and €255 million.

The OPV program addresses the need to ensure adequate capabilities for presence and surveillance, maritime surveillance, merchant traffic control, protection of lines of communication and the exclusive economic zone, as well as activities to protect against threats from marine pollution, such as spills of toxic liquids.

The OPVs have a length of about 95 metres, a displacement of 2,300 tonnes and the capacity to accommodate 97 crew members on board.

The ship has a new “naval cockpit”, developed for the Italian Navy’s Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessels (PPAs). An integrated workstation was designed, co-produced by Leonardo and Fincantieri NexTech, which allows the ship and aeronaval operations to be controlled by only two operators, the pilot and copilot, who fulfil the duties of officer of the watch on the bridge and commander. Indeed, from this station, located in the command bridge, it is possible to manage the machinery, rudders and platform systems as well as some of the functions of the combat management system.