The Navy proceeds with its inexorable modernization. In conjunction with the FREMM program, Finmeccanica and Fincantieri's eight hundred million euro coup shows its broadest prospects. In fact, for 2020, in addition to the delivery of two other super-technological frigates, a unit cost approximately calculated between 350 and 400 million euros, mention is made of another impressive unit. In fact, it has now been established that, among the 10 billion euros that appeared in the Defense White Paper, 1,1 billion euros is due to the launch of a latest generation LHD (multirole amphibious unit).
The objective is the gradual replacement of the now obsolete LPD (amphibious transport unit) "Santi" class. The St. George, launched in the distant 1987, the San Giusto, launched in the 1993, and the cruiser portaeremobili Garibaldi, which plies the sea from the 85, and whose roles were already partially detected by the entry of the modern fleet Cavour. What has been made known for now, besides the expense agreed for the order, are the general characteristics of what could well become the new flagship of our sea army.
La Landing Helicopeter Dock will boast a length of 200 meters, a weight of about 22,000 tons and a CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) propulsion system for which the American company is competing as suppliers General Elecric and the British Rolls-Royce. The maximum speed sought is that of 25 nodes and its flight deck, which will not have the specifications suitable to withstand the launch of the F-35B, will host up to 6 EH-101 helicopters. Its carrying capacity for additional 60 tn will allow it to transport a large number of military or civilian personnel, LCM (landing craft), and vehicles and loads of all kinds. A space of 1000 mt / q will be used as a hospital area, with the possibility of hospitalizing and assisting up to 28 serious injuries.
The armament system, which is supposed to end up with additional costs, will include anti-mine sonar, 3 25 mm short-range cannons + 2 76 / 62 SR Otomelara or 76mm Strales, the ASTER anti-missile system and an Electronic Warfare system ESM / ECM.
It will be used as in its nature of "dual use" as well as for purely military operations of coordination, disembarkation and support, for civil protection and sea rescue operations in which our fleet is daily engaged. The LHD unit can provide sanitary and hospital support, provide drinking water where necessary through special on-board watermakers, supply, and distribute, 2000 kw of electrical power on the ground. The decision to allocate this amount of public resources to modernize the fleet raised several discussions already for the Fremm program, and will not miss the opportunity to recur as soon as the specifications of the LHD will go into greater detail.
