Fincantieri Unveils Groundbreaking Integrated Underwater Drone Technology
Today, at the Naval Support and Experimentation Center of La Spezia, Fincantieri introduced its inaugural “DEEP” underwater drone system during a demonstration operation.
The occasion signifies a pivotal achievement for Fincantieri in the realm of underwater technology, affirming the Group’s preeminence in the underwater domain and solidifying a clear and progressive trajectory of industrial advancement.
The event was graced by the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Defense, Hon. Matteo Perego di Cremnago, along with Fincantieri’s CEO and Managing Director, Pierroberto Folgiero. Also in attendance were the Mayor of La Spezia, Pierluigi Peracchini; representing the Liguria Region, the Chief of Staff, Massimiliano Nannini; the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino; the President of the National Foundation for the Underwater Dimension, Senator Roberta Pinotti; along with Fincantieri’s Chairman, Biagio Mazzotta, the Director of Naval Vessels Division, Eugenio Santagata, and Executive Vice President Underwater, Gabriele Maria Cafaro.
The DEEP system represents a state-of-the-art integrated solution aimed at safeguarding, developing, and maintaining vital underwater infrastructure and harbor environments, while also engaging in monitoring and ecological preservation activities. The system was engineered from the beginning with a dual objective, designed to cater to both civilian requirements and defense and security applications. This adaptability enables DEEP to function across a variety of scenarios, providing high-value solutions for environmental and infrastructure safeguarding, as well as operational assistance.
The platform is composed of a network of underwater sensors intended for early detection (Early Warning System), a Command and Control Center for real-time management of operations, a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of undertaking missions across varying levels of independence, collaboration, and coordination, and an AI-driven system dedicated to data analysis and processing.
The inauguration of DEEP is part of Fincantieri’s strategy to reinforce its underwater division, where the Group excels at providing integrated, high-value solutions, owing to a distinctive industrial supply chain and interdisciplinary expertise amalgamated within the Underwater Technology Hub, which synchronizes all functions associated with civil, military, and dual-use systems through a united management strategy. Thanks to this holistic approach, Fincantieri is positioned to oversee markets and address the most intricate demands of private and institutional clients, fortifying its pioneering and reference position in technology and industry within the international underwater landscape.
Today, the underwater sphere is a critical domain for security, energy, environmental surveillance, and underwater communications, with a global market estimated at approximately 50 billion euros yearly, of which Fincantieri’s accessible segment averages around 22 billion euros each year. Fincantieri aspires to emerge as a premier contributor in the evolution of this new strategic infrastructure, leveraging its capacity to amalgamate intricate expertise and advanced industrial resources.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, remarked: “The introduction of DEEP stands as tangible evidence of our resolve to deepen our commitment to innovation. Today we validated an integrated unmanned underwater drone system that offers a groundbreaking and practical response to safeguarding critical infrastructure through the deployment of superior technologies. This accomplishment is the outcome of an exceptional industrial supply chain that empowers us to anticipate market requirements and position ourselves for the future. We take pride in spearheading this transformation, which contributes significantly to the security, growth, competitiveness, and technological independence of our national system, while also steering us toward global leadership in the underwater economy.”
