Fincantieri delivers fourth Multipurpose Combat Ship (PPA) to Italian Navy

Notable attendees included Vice Admiral Andrea Gueglio, Director of the Italian Navy Military Personnel Directorate, Admiral Chief Inspector Giuseppe Abbamonte, Director of the Naval Armaments Directorate (NAVARM), and Joachim Sucker, Director of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement). They were welcomed by Attilio Dapelo, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Naval Vessels Division, and Antonio Quintano, Director of the Riva Trigoso-Muggiano Integrated Shipyard.

The “Giovanni delle Bande Nere” is the first vessel in the PPA class to be delivered in its “full” configuration. It is part of a wider plan to modernise the Italian Navy’s fleet, a programme that was approved by the Italian Government and Parliament, with the support of OCCAR.

The PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) is a versatile vessel designed to perform a range of tasks, from patrol missions with sea rescue capabilities to civil protection and frontline combat operations. The ship’s combat system can be tailored to different missions, with options ranging from a “light” configuration focused on patrol duties to a fully equipped version for advanced defence operations.

Among its notable features:

• Overall length: 143 metres
• Maximum speed: Over 31 knots
• Crew capacity: 171 personnel
• Propulsion: Combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) system, with electric propulsion capability
• Ability to operate high-speed vessels, such as Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) up to 11 metres, using lateral cranes or a stern ramp
• Equipped to supply drinking water and electrical power to land-based facilities in emergency situations

The PPA class is being built at Fincantieri’s Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with further deliveries scheduled through to 2026.