Fincantieri lays keel for third PPA
Fincantieri has begun construction of the Italian Navy’s third Multipurpose Patrol Ship (PPA) at its shipyard in Riva Trigoso, Genova, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation announced on 8 November.
The ship, the first in the 'light plus' configuration, will be launched at the end of 2020. Based on a common platform, PPAs will be built in three different configurations: light (two ships), light plus (three ships) and full (two ships).
The light version will have a complete set of artillery and will be able to deploy developing operational capabilities. The light plus version will be equipped with missile firing capability with actuators also planned for ballistic missile defence. The full version will be able to operate in all naval warfare domains including anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare.
The PPAs will also be utilised to support non-combat operations such as disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy takes delivery of New Jersey SSN
The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are replacing the old Los Angeles-class SSNs. The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons and around 48 submarines are planned, with a total of 38 currently ordered.
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.