Unveiling the Ninth Fremm Unit “Spartaco Schergat”: A New Era for the Italian Navy’s Defense Capabilities
Today, at Fincantieri’s Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard, Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), a collaboration owned by Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), has successfully handed over the multi-role frigate ‘Spartaco Schergat’ to the Italian Navy. This marks the ninth vessel in a total of 10 FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigates) commissioned to Orizzonte Sistemi Navali as the Principal Contractor and Whole Warship and Combat System Design Authority under the Italian-French international partnership agreement. The contract was finalized with OCCAR, the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement.
The event drew notable attendees, including Dario Deste, General Director of Fincantieri’s Naval Vessels Division, Giovanni Sorrentino, CEO of OSN, OCCAR Director General Joachim Sucker, Admiral Vincenzo Montanaro, Commander of the Interregional Maritime Command South, Admiral Giuseppe Abbamonte, Director of Naval Armaments, and General Francois Watteau, DGA representative.
The FREMM initiative, initiated in 2005 with the inaugural ship delivered in July 2012, outlines the provision of four General Purpose Units, four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) vessels, and two Enhanced Anti-Submarine units. Within this framework, two next-gen FREMM frigates in the “EVOLUTION” variant – referred to as “FREMM EVO” – are presently under construction at the Fincantieri Integrated Shipyard in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with expected deliveries in 2029 and 2030.
The newly designed unit, constructed at the Fincantieri Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, is outfitted with cutting-edge systems developed by Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA, and Elettronica. Like the other FREMM vessels, it offers remarkable operational versatility, capable of engaging in various tactical environments. The frigate measures 144 meters in length, 19.7 meters in width, and has a total displacement of roughly 6,700 tons. It can achieve speeds exceeding 27 knots and can support a crew of up to 200 personnel onboard.
These vessels’ pioneering and cyber-resilient features result from comprehensive design, organization, and management endeavors. A high degree of automation is incorporated into next-generation onboard systems utilized for all onboard functions. This strategy aids in maintaining exceptional operational readiness, supported by an optimized maintenance framework. Extensive Human Factors studies have influenced the design to create more effective and efficient workspaces tailored to diverse operational requirements. The ship also possesses enhanced autonomy (approximately 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots) and logistical standards suited for extended missions, even beyond the wider Mediterranean region.
Spartaco Schergat, the first of two units configured for Enhanced Anti-Submarine Warfare, is optimized as a multi-role craft, incorporating systems specific to both the General Purpose and ASW versions. This configuration allows for a balanced contribution across all combat domains while enhancing anti-submarine capabilities for maritime control operations, safeguarding maritime communication lines, and naval interdiction. Additionally, this vessel is equipped to operate as a sophisticated command center, overseeing joint and combined missions.
The FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigate) initiative stands as the most substantial collaborative endeavor among European industries in the naval domain, showcasing the pinnacle of both Italian and European defense advancements. It arises from the urgent need to modernize the Italian Navy’s fleet, primarily replacing the “Lupo” and “Maestrale” classes of frigates, which were constructed by Fincantieri in the 1970s and 1980s.
