Italy may finalise OPV procurement plan by autumn 2014

The Italian Navy may finalise its plan to purchase new class of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) by the autumn 2014, in a bid to boost its capability.

The procurement of OPV, with a displacement capacity of about 4,500t, will be funded with funds made available by the allocation of €6bn by the government’s so-called Law of Stability, in the coming years, reported Defense-Aerospace.com.

The OPV will have basic design and common major components (hull, engines), but will differ in their sensor suite and weapons to meet their main missions which will range from maritime sovereignty enforcement and full-fledged combat missions.

Currently, the Italian Navy is planning to purchase an initial class of ten ships, of which one will be built as full capability ship while five will be built in the light variant optimised for offshore patrol.

The latter ships will be integrated with electronically-scanned radar, which is being developed by Selex ES, to enable 360-degree surveillance of airspace and to detect and engage multiple aerial targets including aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

The navy plans to equip at least four full capability and six light variants of the basic design with new Italian radar.

The Italian Navy’s 7th department head Rear Admiral Antonio Natale said, "The acquisition of the new radar, combined with the Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, will allow the Navy to have a very advanced system against all types of threats and the domestic airline to offer a very competitive product on the market."

The light variant of the new OPVs cost would range about €300m and slightly over €500m for the full variant.

The Stability Law’s funds will also be used for the construction of other naval ships such as a logistics ship, a large amphibious warfare ship to replace the Garibaldi light aircraft carrier and 2 landing ships, a oceanographic research vessel and a submarine support ship.