In early August, the Italian Navy notified Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN, joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo) of the exercise of its option to build the fourth new-generation offshore patrol vessel, known as PPX.

The total value of the transaction, which also includes logistic support, is approximately EUR 236 million. Currently, OSN (51% Fincantieri and 49% Leonardo) is about to conclude the relevant sub-contracts with Fincantieri and Leonardo, which will be worth around €163 million and €70 million respectively.

The new PPXs, which will be built at Fincantieri's Integrated Shipyard in Riva Trigoso (GE) and Muggiano (SP), are designed for presence and surveillance operations, maritime patrol, merchant traffic control, protection of sea lines of communications (SLOC) and the Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as protection against environmental threats to the marine ecosystem. The new ships will have a displacement of 2,350 t, a length of 95 m and a maximum beam of 14 m.

They will be characterised by a CODLAD (Combined Diesel eLectric And Diesel) propulsion system and will be equipped with the naval cockpit developed for the PPAs (THAON DE REVEL class) based on a truly revolutionary requirement. Indeed, the naval cockpit is an integrated workstation (built by Leonardo and Fincantieri NexTech) that allows maritime and aeronaval operations to be conducted by just two operators, pilot and the co-pilot. From this workstation, located on the bridge, it is in fact possible to manage machineries, rudders and platform systems as well as certain functions of the combat system.