Italian Armed Forces

[Kraff]

After 17 months of maintenance and upgrades, the Vesuvio replenishment oiler came back to active duty. Among other things, the flight deck can now operate EH-101s and SH-90s.

[Kraff]

It's happening. LHD incoming, for 1.1 billion. I won't be surprised if it's going to be another STVOL carrier, for that price...

[xav]

With model pics

Fincantieri & Finmeccanica to Build 1 Multipurpose Amphibious Unit LHD for the Italian Navy

The unit will be approx. 200 meters long with a maximum speed of 25 knots. It will be equipped with a combined diesel and gas turbine plant (CODOG) and will be able to accommodate on board over 1,000 people, of whom more than 700 military or civilian transported people.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2864

[xav]

Laying down Ceremony for the 8th FREMM (General Purpose) Frigate for the Italian Navy

The 8th Italian FREMM ship was laid down on the 12th July 2015 at the Riva Trigoso shipyard. The ceremony marks an important milestone in the OCCAR FREMM Programme after the first steel cutting of this frigate on the 25th February 2015. This new FREMM ship will be in the General Purpose configuration and will be delivered to the Italian Navy at the beginning of 2019.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2911

[The Armchair Soldier]

Neuron Completes Italian Flight Trials

The pan-European Neuron unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator has completed its second phase of testing, Alenia Aermacchi announced on 25 August.

Conducted in Sardinia, 12 sorties were flown to test the UCAV's "combat capability, its low radar-cross section and low infrared signature, during missions flown at different altitudes and flight profiles and against both ground-based and air radar 'threats'", Alenia stated.

Read More: http://www.janes.com/article/53814/neur ... ght-trials

I'm looking forward to seeing this thing drop ordnance in Sweden.

Since France is taking a lot of this technology with them to work with us on FCAS, what will the other Neuron partners do (namely Italy and Sweden, which both had considerable input in Neuron)? Are there any plans for them to collaborate and make their own UCAV?

Or will France just do a "Telemos" and ditch FCAS to pursue another pan-European effort?

[Kraff]

The staff of an italian forum was allowed to read and report about the LHD documents... this is the drawings they drew based on that information.




Comparison with Cavour:


Length: 230m
Beam: 36m
Landing spots: 9
Weapons: 3 x 76/62 Strales, 3 x 25/80mm, 32 VLS
Empty displacement: 22000
Full displacement... about 36500! That's 9400 more than cavour!

If this is the final version.... Holy...

[Tiny Toy]

If this is the final version.... Holy...

Nice!

[~UNiOnJaCk~]

Can we have one please??? You can take off the VLS and the more exoctic Strales guns but the rest will do just fine.

[Kraff]

As a side note, the MM always said the LHD (or should we call it LHA by now?) was going to be 22-23000. They didn't lie, it just wasn't the full load!

And this makes me wonder, they also said the LSS was going to be 22000, and the PPAs to be about 4500-4600. Could have they tricked us again?

Oh and I forgot, the LHD is reported to have a speed of 25+ kn.

[Kraff]

And meanwhile, OCCAR released a couple new renders.

LSS


PPA

[ArmChairCivvy]

PPA's length seems to have been utilised optimally. Can anyone estimate it from those known design elements (e.g. the gun turret)?
- I am thinking of UK design studies that have made reference to the Atlantic (not the Med) wave forms, both in the North and South of it... and concluded that 103m is the minimum. Then the actual discussion about weight growth always goes on the lines: "T23s have been packed too full, through upgrades; we must not repeat the mistake" etc. etc. The next design does not seem to be able to launch from the drawing board (because the rumours have it that it has grown to cruiser size, 7.5 ktn?). I thought we already had the cruisers (T45s).

[Kraff]

PPA's length seems to have been utilised optimally. Can anyone estimate it from those known design elements (e.g. the gun turret)?
- I am thinking of UK design studies that have made reference to the Atlantic (not the Med) wave forms, both in the North and South of it... and concluded that 103m is the minimum. Then the actual discussion about weight growth always goes on the lines: "T23s have been packed too full, through upgrades; we must not repeat the mistake" etc. etc. The next design does not seem to be able to launch from the drawing board (because the rumours have it that it has grown to cruiser size, 7.5 ktn?). I thought we already had the cruisers (T45s).

They should be 124 m, from OCCAR's data.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Many thanks... now we just await to see if they come at the usual half price from UK's (T26) design.

Penny M in Washington was telling the Americans that our ships are twice the price bcz they have twice the capability (comparing to the LCS, of course!).

[Kraff]

Italy's F-35A Lightning II Flies Inaugural European Flight

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/p ... light.html

[Kraff]

Updated drawings:



Latest render:

[SKB]

Seems the world approves of the QE's twin islands design.

[R686]

First two Italian AirForce pilots fly a F35A, and it was a full international flavour as well with American, Australian and Italian involvement.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/11/06/it ... irst-time/

Well done

[xav]

Fincantieri Launched the Sixh FREMM Frigate “Luigi Rizzo” for the Italian Navy

“Luigi Rizzo” is the sixth FREMM unit which Fincantieri builds and delivers to the Italian Navy. It is the second FREMM in GP "General Purpose" configuration. Picture: Fincantieri

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3380

[eagle spotters]

A few months ago...


9 Oct 2014, Italian Navy's new Type 212A, third Todaro-class AIP-capable submarine "Pietro Venuti" (S528), launch:

http://www.strategic-bureau.com/en/la-m ... ro-venuti/




4 jul 2015, Italian Navy's new Type 212A, fourth Todaro-class AIP-capable submarine "Romeo Romei" (S529), launch:

http://www.janes.com/article/52854/ital ... -submarine

[eagle spotters]

Rumors:

- new italian LHD (LHA ) will be Christened "Trieste"
- CODOG propulsion system will have 2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 TAGs.

[shark bait]

4 jul 2015, Italian Navy's new Type 212A, fourth Todaro-class AIP-capable submarine "Romeo Romei" (S529), launch:

Wouldn't mind seeing a couple of them in Royal Navy hands. Some very nice boats.

[eagle spotters]

MoD, National Research Council, Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, and Trade Unions agree to finance Euro 250 millions for a new ice-strengthened, ocean research vessel to replace ITS Ammiraglio Magnaghi.

Fincantieri will build vessel to Castellammare di Stabia shipyards.

[eagle spotters]

Update renderings for new Italian Navy LSS:







- Displacement: about 23.500 t
- lenght overall: 181 m
- lenght oversea: 164,9 m
- Width: 24 m
- Beam: 16,3 m
- propulsion system: CODLAD (COmbined Diesel-eLectric And Diesel)
- 2 diesel engines, 11 MW eachone
- 2 electric engines x 1,5 MW eachone
- electric power plant: 2 x 2W engines diesel and 1 x 1 MW Emergency diesel
- Max speed on electric engines: 10 kn
- Max speed CODLAD ≥20 kn
- Max speed on diesel engines ≥19 kn
- Cruise speed 16 kn
- Range: 7.000 nm to 16 kn
- crew: 188
- hospital beds: 12
- flight deck, 27,6 m x largo 24 m (662,4 m2)
- 1 spot for AW-101 or tilt-rotor up to 36 t
- Hangar for 2 X AW-101
- 4 replenishment side stations (for JP5 e F76) and 1 stern station (only for diesel fuel)
- trasnsport capability: at least 10,017 t, of which:
-- naval fuel (F76) at least 6700 m3 (5,695 t)
-- aviation fuel (JP5/F44) at least 3700 m3 (3,000 t)
-- drinkable water at least 800 m3
-- at least 220 t of ammunitions
-- at least 18 t of lubricant oils/gasoline
-- 20 t spares
-- 8 ISO20 containers ISO20 (for 224 t)
-- 30.000 meals (40 t)
- FFBNW (1 x OTO Melara 76/62 mm Strales)
- 2 X OTO Melara 25/80 mm
- 2 X 30 t cranes
- NATO Role 2 Light Manoeuvre hospital (12 injures)
- Selex ES new CMS
- Selex ES Janus with double IRST heat
- Selex ES Integrated Communications System, with satellite multiband system and Software Defined Radio
- Selex ES integrated navigation system with X and Ka band radar
- Selex ES new IFF (Identification Friend & Foe)
- WASS Spa Diver Detection Sonar
- WASS Spa Obstacle Avoidance sonar

[ArmChairCivvy]

- 1 spot for AW-101 or tilt-rotor up to 36 t
- Hangar for 2 X AW-101

V nice, VERTREPping fast and afar has not been forgotten
Self-defence armament and a force protection boat, neither

I wonder if the containers can be reefer-type; probs not as the meals capacity is mentioned separately?

[eagle spotters]

The meals capacity is separately mentioned (40 t).
8 containers ISO 1C weights up to 224 t (28 t each-one).