UNPAV (Unità Navale Polivalente Alta Velocità) is a class of two high-speed multipurpose patrol vessels designed and being built by Intermarine (Immsi Group) for the Italian Navy’s Special Forces unit Gruppo Operativo Incursori (GOI).
The vessels are intended for tasks such as patrolling, maritime traffic control and evacuation of personnel in distress. They can also be used for anti-piracy, counter-terrorism and prevention of human trafficking at sea.
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UNPAV patrol boat construction
Intermarine was awarded a contract worth €40m ($43.31m) by the Italian Navy in June 2016 to design and build two high-speed patrol vessels.
Construction on the first vessel began at Intermarine’s Sarzana shipyard in Italy in September 2016. The launching ceremony of the vessel is scheduled to take place in October 2018, with delivery expected for December 2019. The second vessel is expected to be delivered to the Italian Navy in 2020.
Rolls-Royce secured a contract from Intermarine to provide engines and waterjets for the UNPAV vessels in January 2017.
Design and features of UNPAV patrol vessels
The UNPAV high-speed multi-purpose patrol vessels will be designed according to the high safety standards set by the Italian Naval Register classification society.
Advanced composite materials will be used in the construction of the hull and deckhouse structures to eliminate electromagnetic interference and to provide protection against acoustic and infrared signatures. The wave-piercing design of the hull offers increased operational efficiency.
Each vessel will have a total length of 40m and beam of 8m. The length between perpendiculars will be 36.25m. With a displacement of 185t, the boat can carry 35m³ of F76 diesel fuel, 4m³ of freshwater and 1t of ammunition.
It can be manned by nine crew members and has the capacity to accommodate an additional 29 personnel.
Two 7.5m-long rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) will be carried on the aft deck to conduct patrolling and transportation missions at sea. The RHIBs will be launched and recovered from the stern of the ship using a davit.
Weaponry
The vessel’s bow will be installed with a Leonardo Hitfist remotely-operated weapon station, which is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun to engage small ships and boats.
The main deck will be fitted with four 7.62mm machine gun mounts, two at the centre and two at the aft, on port and starboard sides to provide fire support against personnel and light-armoured targets.
The multi-purpose boat will also incorporate the Leonardo-Finmeccanica SADOC Mk4 combat management system.
Sensors on board UNPAV high-speed vessels
A radar antenna mast will be installed on top of the main deck amidships to provide navigation and communications as well as to detect and track remote objects.
It will house a number of sensors including communication antennae, navigation radar system, dual-band radar, marine radar and electro-optical units.
Drive train
The patrol vessel will be powered by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system consisting of three Rolls-Royce MTU 16V 2000 M91 series diesel engines, rated at 2,001bhp, and two 120kW generators.
Coupled with Rolls-Royce Kamewa S4 water jet propellers, the engines will deliver improved performance at lower speeds.
UNPAV patrol vessels performance
The UNPAV vessels will have a cruising speed of 32k, range of 1,500nm at 16k and endurance of up to 10 days.
