First Italian PPA vessel launched from shipyard
The Italian navy’s first Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura (PPA)-class multipurpose offshore patrol ship - the Paolo Thaon di Revel - has been launched from Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano.
This was attended by Italian defence minister Elisabetta Trenta, as well as chief of staff of the Italian navy, Adm Valter Girardelli, Fincantieri’s chairman Giampiero Massolm, and CEO Giuseppe Bono.
The PPA is the first of seven units on order, and will be delivered in 2021.
It is part of a renewal plan for Italian naval vessels, approved by the government and parliament under its naval act introduced in May 2015.
The multipurpose offshore patrol vessel can serve multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to civil protection operations, while in its most highly-equipped version, can serve as a front-line fighting vessel.
The configuration of the combat system will vary, starting from a ‘soft’ version for patrol tasks equipped for self-defence, ranging up to a ‘full’ one equipped for a complete defensive ability.
The PPAs are being built at the Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with subsequent deliveries following the first one in 2021 scheduled for 2022, 2023, 2024 (two units), 2025 and 2026.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs]()
South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs
HHI and Hanwha Ocean outline highly autonomous and unmanned-enabled designs as the ROKN explores force structure for the 2030s and beyond.
-
![US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs]()
US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs
The Office of Naval Research will host an Industry Engagement Day in August aiming at building new partnerships and advancing its science and technology initiatives in multiple areas.
-
![Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy]()
Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy
Under the most recent contract, the US Navy will receive four additional AN/SPY-6(V) radars, increasing the number of radars under contract to 42. The radars are considered key for expanding the navy’s capability for air defence.
