Fincantieri and OCCAR officials press the steel laser cutter start button. Credit: ©OCCAR.

The Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement (OCCAR) has announced the first steel cutting ceremony for the Italian Navy’s new multipurpose offshore patrol ship (PPA).

The event was held on 7 April at Fincantieri’s integrated shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia. It marks a key programme milestone and was held four months in advance of the contract schedule.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The Italian Navy’s PPA programme comprises of the development and production of seven ships in three different configurations with incremental capabilities of ‘LIGHT’, ‘LIGHT PLUS’, and ‘FULL’.

These seven ships are being built as part of the Italian fleet renewal programme.

PPA in ‘LIGHT’ configuration will possess a complete set of artillery, while the ‘LIGHT PLUS’ configuration PPA will add missile firing capability with actuators planned also for ballistic missile defence.

Meanwhile, the ‘FULL’ configuration PPA will be equipped to cope with three-dimensional threats such as air, surface and underwater.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

In addition, each system on the ‘FULL’ configuration PPA can be rapidly installed on ‘LIGHT’ and ‘LIGHT PLUS’, offering operational flexibility.

OCCAR noted that the new vessel will be the third ship of the PPA Class in ‘LIGHT PLUS’ configuration and the sixth PPA (PPA6).

The PPA6 is scheduled to be launched during summer 2023. It will be delivered to the Italian Navy in 2025.

Last month, Fincantieri launched PPA Raimondo Montecuccol at its shipyard in Riva Trigoso, Genoa.

In the same month, Fincantieri’s Naval Integrated shipyard delivered the newly built logistics support ship (LSS) Vulcano to the Italian Navy.