The frigate “Alpino” was delivered today at the Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard. It is the fifth vessel of the FREMM program - Multi Mission European Frigates - commissioned to Fincantieri within the international Italian-French program, coordinated by OCCAR (the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri and 49% Finmeccanica) is the prime contractor for Italy in the FREMM program, which envisions the construction of 10 units, all already ordered.
“Alpino” is the fifth FREMM unit built by Fincantieri and delivered to the Italian Navy including the combat system, the fourth with the ASW - Anti Submarine Warfare configuration, that is the ability of silent navigation speed in significant anti-submarine hunting.
144 meters long and with a displacement at full load of approximately 6,700 tonnes, 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.
The program, coordinated by OCCAR, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, faces the need for the renewal of the Italian Navy’s Lupo (disarment completed in 2003) and Maestrale (close in reaching its operational life limit) class units.
These units significantly contribute to the development of the tasks assigned to the Italian Navy, being able to operate in various sectors: anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and anti-naval warfare, fire support from the sea as well as an organic helicopter component embarked. The FREMM units are set to become the backbone of the Italian Navy over the next decades.