Formidable Shield is a biennial Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) activity, planned by the United States Sixth Fleet and conducted by STRIKFORNATO, a NATO command based in Lisbon. The 2025 edition was designed to test the performance of systems in multi-domain scenarios and their ability to coordinate among allied naval forces.
The Giovanni delle Bande Nere, the first MPCS/PPA Multi Mission Combat Unit in its “full” configuration, deployed a range of Leonardo-developed systems during the exercise. These included SADOC 4, a next-generation command-and-control system, and the Dual Band Radar suite capable of detecting and tracking ballistic, aerial and surface threats.
“SADOC 4 is the ship’s brain,” Leonardo stated. The system has been designed “to quickly and effectively coordinate defence against air and missile threats, even the most advanced and difficult ones to intercept.”
The company highlighted SADOC 4’s advanced human–machine interface, describing it as “a more intuitive and dynamic approach that improves operational readiness and makes the ship even more responsive and aware of the scenario in which it operates.” This system significantly reduces decision-making time for operators.
The Dual Band Radar system was also put to the test under operational conditions during the live-fire scenarios of the exercise. Designed for flexibility across different ship types, the radar “offers high performance thanks to the arrangement of its panels, which ensure complete coverage and reduce electromagnetic interference.”
Leonardo stated that the radar is capable of simultaneously performing “surveillance, target tracking, missile guidance, fire support and electronic attack,” and it proved its effectiveness by tracking ballistic missiles at supersonic speeds for hundreds of kilometres.
Thanks to these technologies, the Italian Navy’s vessel operated cohesively with NATO forces, significantly contributing to shared situational awareness. The onboard sensors tracked a short-range ballistic target through to sea impact and identified medium-range missiles launched from both land and sea, sharing data in real time via tactical links.
“Leonardo’s Dual Band Radar stood out for its ability to initialise tracking within seconds of launch,” the company noted, confirming its capacity to maintain accurate tracking over long distances.
During the final forum of the exercise, the Italian Navy was recognised for achieving one of the highest levels of IAMD capability globally. This was attributed to the performance of its Leonardo-developed sensors and SADOC 4’s interoperability with advanced allied systems, particularly those of the United States.
