Undersecretary of State for Defense, Angelo Tofalo, has risen a few days aboard the submarine of the Italian Navy Scirè, "A true jewel of technology" the result of a cooperation between Italy and Germany, designed in 2000, launched in 2004 and made operational in 2007 "thanks to the contribution of the best minds and the most skilled workers in our country."
Tofalo has defined it "a mammoth secret agent, built with solid materials, but so agile as to allow its crew to reach considerable speeds". In fact, the submarine is able to navigate 12 nodes on the surface and 20 in immersion and to monitor all movements within tens of miles without being detected.
With a crew of 27 "highly specialized" members Scirè acquires and provides information of strategic importance for the defense and security of our country, according to Tofalo "represents an important military component, engaged in the fight against terrorism, the illegal trafficking of weapons and human beings, smuggling, piracy, environmental crimes and possible hostile acts by other countries that could put at risk the territorial integrity and national interests at sea."
And then he adds: "You could live for tens of days in an artificial environment where you can not use means of communication to stay in touch with your loved ones, be updated on the main news, keep track of the time and day of the week you are living ?".
"Imagine finding yourself blindfolded at the bottom of the sea having as a sole reference to orientate the surrounding sounds", Said Tofalo that off the port of Civitavecchia participated in the maneuvers of diving and submarine navigation,"This is the situation experienced by submergers every day, naturally supported by cutting-edge technological equipment and by the great experience and training that leads operators to promptly distinguish the frequencies of the sounds of a whale from those of interest produced by human activity, from ships or other submarines."
The Scirè submarine, S527 Classe Todaro - U212A, is equipped with the most modern equipment and is the result of a project that Fincantieri has achieved thanks to a government agreement between Italy and Germany, coordinating the work of companies that, thanks to a very important technological know-how, they have designed and implemented incredibly innovative solutions.
Long 56 meters and wide 7 is equipped with a permanent magnet electric propulsion motor powered by cleanly generated current from the combination of hydrogen and oxygen to allow its crew to plunge into deep water for long periods so as to observe, in absolute silence, what happens in an occult way: therefore remaining "invisible".
"I will soon return to visit this and other 007 of the abyss to further deepen the knowledge of this military instrument", Said Undersecretary Tofalo saluting the crew,"The information obtained thanks to the audacity and the coldness of the men and women of the Navy will be of strategic importance for the political decisions that I will have to support in the coming months".
"I want to send a message to those who every day, with great spirit of sacrifice, put their skills at the service of the country - concludes Tofalo - "I will do everything in my power so that your every mission has the best possible protection".
Finally a special thanks Tofalo addresses him "to those who daily in such a complex and cramped environment, manages to recreate a family atmosphere feeding delicious dishes with brave men and women. Who? The cook obviously".