First Enhanced ASW Frigate Delivered To Italian Navy

The first of two enhanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) FREMM frigates, ITS Spartaco Schergat, has just been delivered to the Italian Navy by Fincantieri.

The joint French-Italian multi-purpose-frigate programme (Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission/Fregata Europea Multi-Missione) is being managed by joint arms group OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'ARmement, or Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation).

The handover ceremony for the new Italian warship took place in La Spezia yesterday (Tuesday), and was attended by dignitaries from OCCAR, the French and Italian navies, and industry partners Orizzonte Sistemi Navali and its joint owners Fincantieri and Leonardo.

ITS Spartaco Schergat is the ninth frigate delivered to the Italian Navy under the 20-ship FREMM programme; it is the penultimate ship supplied under the terms of the initial agreement, and the first of two “ASW-enhanced” Italian ships.

The second, the future ITS Bianchi, is currently scheduled to be delivered by July 2025. The new variants provide a combination of additional ASW and anti-surface warfare capabilities and come equipped with a suite of advanced systems produced by Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA, and Elettronica.

ITS Schergat has been named after a famed Italian military diver who took part in a successful “manned torpedo” raid on British warships in the Egyptian port of Alexandria in December 1941.

The FREMM programme has also seen eight frigates delivered to the French Navy. Two further next-generation Italian FREMM-EVO variants have been ordered via a contract amendment signed in July 2024; steel has been cut on these ships and they are due to be delivered in 2029 and 2030. 

As per recent press statements, the EVO-variant frigates will boast “the latest anti-drone capabilities” and the ability to operationally manage their own uncrewed systems above, on, and below the water.

• You can read more details on the Fincantieri website and the OCCAR website