As part of the renewal plan for the Navy fleet, whose first tranche was launched in recent months, OCCAR (Organization Conjointe de Cooperation sur l'Armement, the international organization for arms cooperation) has ordered a further Multi-purpose Offshore Patrol (PPA) al Temporary Business Grouping (RTI), set up between Fincantieri, agent, and Finmeccanica, principal through Selex ES, activating the relative contractual option and combining the production in a single phase, made immediately operational. Thus seven PPA patrol boats become RTI. The previous six had been assigned in May, and a further three units are still in option. Delivery of the first patrol vessel is scheduled in 2021. Deliveries of subsequent patrol boats are scheduled in 2022, 2023, 2024 with two units, 2025 and 2026. In addition to the PPA patrol boats, the construction, already contracted in recent months, of a logistic support unit (LSS, or Logistic Support Ship) and a multi-role amphibious unit (LHD, or Landing Helicopter Dock) is planned, the latter through the form of a public contract with the Italian Defense Administration.
The total value of the contracts assigned to the RTI thus reaches a value of approximately 5,4 billion, of which Fincantieri's share is approximately 3,6 billion, while that of Finmeccanica amounts to approximately 1,8 billion. The assignment of the operational contracts relative to the first tranche of the multi-year program for the renewal of the Navy fleet (the so-called "Naval Law") is completed.
The fundamental characteristic common to all three classes of ships would be their very high level of innovation which would make them extremely flexible in their different use profiles with a high degree of efficiency and configuration capacity. In particular, these units would have a dual employment profile (the so-called dual use), the typically military one and the one for civil protection and sea rescue operations; in addition they would have a low environmental impact, through advanced auxiliary propulsion systems with low pollutant emission (electric motors) and biological effluent control.
Characteristics of PPA units
The multi-purpose offshore patrol vessel represents a highly flexible type of ship with the ability to perform multiple tasks ranging from patrol with sea rescue capability, to Civil Protection operations, and, in its most equipped version, from a front-line fighter vessel . In fact, different combat system configurations are envisaged: starting from a "light" version, related to the patrol task, integrated with self-defense capability, up to a "complete" one, equipped with the maximum defense capability. Furthermore the unit is able to use fast boats like RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) up to a length of more than 11 meters by means of side cranes or a ramp at the far aft.
- 132,5 meters in length
- Speed over 33 nodes depending on the configuration and the operational structure
- 171 crew people
- Equipped with combined diesel and gas turbine system (CODAG)
- Ability to supply drinking water to the ground
- Ability to supply electric current to ground for a power of 2.000 kw
- modular areas at the stern and center of the ship that allow the embarkation of various types of containerized operational / logistic / housing / sanitary modules (in particular the stern area can receive and move in 5 container modules in a covered area up to ISO 20 containers "while the central area up 8 ISO 20 container ")
The PPAs will be built at the Riva Trigoso and Muggiano Integrated Shipyard with delivery scheduled for the first unit of the class in the 2021 while the subsequent ones will be delivered in the 2022, 2023, 2024 with two units, 2025 and 2026.
