Article Posted on : - Apr 18, 2019

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TRIESTE (BNS): The Italian Navy has taken delivery of the eight frigate, Antonio Marceglia, from a series of 10 vessels of the FREMM programme – Multi Mission European Frigates.

Fincantieri is building the vessels as part of the international Italian-French programme, coordinated by OCCAR (the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri and 49% Leonardo) is the prime contractor for Italy in the FREMM programme.

“Antonio Marceglia” is the eighth unit built by Fincantieri that includes the combat system, the fourth in multipurpose configuration after the “Carlo Bergamini”, the “Luigi Rizzo” and the “Federico Martinengo”, delivered to the Italian Navy respectively in 2013, 2017 and 2018.

Measuring  144 meters of length and with a displacement at full load of approximately 6,700 tons, the FREMM frigates represent technological excellence: designed to reach a maximum speed of 27 knots and to provide accommodation for 200 people (crew and staff), these vessels are able to always guarantee a high degree of flexibility and to operate in a wide range of scenarios and tactical situations, a Fincantier statement said.

The FREMM programme, representing the Italian and European defence state of the art, stems from the renewal need of the Italian Navy “Lupo” class (already decommissioned) and “Maestrale” class (some of them already decommissioned, the remaining close to the attainment of operational limit) frigates, both built by Fincantieri starting from the 1970s.

These units – which will become the backbone of the naval fleet over the next decades –significantly contribute to the development of the tasks assigned to the Italian Navy, being able to operate in various sectors, from specific military purposes to those in favor of the community, it added.