In a €1.6bn ($1.74bn) deal, Intermarine and Leonardo will supply the Italian Navy with five minehunters, poised to improve maritime security and seabed surveillance.
This agreement, orchestrated through a temporary grouping of companies, marks advancing naval technology and operational capabilities.
The contract was signed with the Directorate of Naval Armaments of the General Secretariat of Defence and National Armaments Directorate. Intermarine, leading the consortium, will manage the design and construction of the minehunter platforms, while Leonardo will supply and integrate the combat systems.
Leveraging R&D investments in materials and manufacturing technologies, these minehunters are designed to perform a range of missions. Beyond traditional mine clearance, they will undertake seabed surveillance to safeguard underwater infrastructure like oil pipelines and data networks.
The vessels will be constructed at Intermarine’s Sarzana shipyard. Leonardo’s contribution, the SADOC 4 command system, sensors, and sonar will equip the minehunters with operational efficacy. These systems are designed for integration and automation, enhancing crew safety and mission success rates.
The features of these minehunters, including resistance to underwater explosions and a low magneto-acoustic signature, make them an addition to Italy’s naval arsenal.
The contract’s optional tranche, valued at an additional €1bn, indicates potential for further expansion and underlines the long-term vision behind this initiative.
This year, the Italian Navy has launched its tenth FREMM frigate, the Emilio Bianchi, marking a step in the OCCAR-managed FREMM programme, which is a collaboration between Italy and France. In a separate development, Italy launched its final Offshore Multi-Purpose Patrol Vessel (PPA), the Domenico Millelire.
In the context of growing international maritime tensions, particularly in areas like the Mediterranean and Black Sea, the Italian Navy’s enhanced minehunting capability is a timely development.
The Netherlands and the UK have provided minehunters to Ukraine to secure grain exports and maintain Black Sea maritime security amidst the ongoing conflict. The Netherlands and the UK both committed two, with the Netherlands providing Alkmaar-class minehunters. This donation is aimed at countering Russian sea mines that obstruct safe passage.
