Fincantieri Launches 9th Multipurpose Italo-French FREMM Frigate

The Spartaco Schergat frigate, the ninth in a series of 10 FREMM vessels (Multi-Mission European Frigates), was ceremoniously launched at the Riva Trigoso integrated shipyard in Genoa, on November 24.

Fincantieri, the chosen shipbuilder commissioned by the Italian Navy, is delivering these vessels as part of an extensive Italo-French international cooperation program overseen by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement), a joint organization fostering European cooperation in armaments.

Following the launch, the Spartaco Schergat frigate will undergo fitting activities at the Muggiano shipyard in La Spezia, with delivery expected in 2025. Boasting a length of 144 meters, a beam of 19.7 meters, and a full load displacement of approximately 6,700 tons, the vessel, like its counterparts, demonstrates flexibility and the capacity to handle diverse tactical situations. With a top speed exceeding 27 knots, it can accommodate up to 200 people on board.

The FREMM program addresses the imperative to modernize the Italian Navy's fleet, including the renewal of the aging "Lupo" and "Maestrale" class frigates built by Fincantieri in the Seventies and Eighties. Noteworthy vessels from the program's earlier deliveries include the Carlo Bergamini (2012), Virginio Fasan (2013), Carlo Margottini (2014), Carabiniere (2015), Alpino (2016), Luigi Rizzo (2017), Federico Martinengo (2018), and Antonio Marceglia (2019).