Italian naval shipbuilder Fincantieri handed over the second Thaon di Revel class (also known as PPA for “Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura”) Francesco Morosini (P431) to the Italian Navy in a ceremony in Muggiano on October 22. The ship was laid down on 16 February 2018 at Fincantieri Muggiano and launched on 22 May 2020. Francesco Morosini is a second of seven vessels all to be built at the Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano with deliveries expected until 2026. Attended the event, among others, the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral OF-9 Enrico Credendino, and the General Manager Naval Vessels Division of Fincantieri, Dario Deste.
The Thaon di Revel class is a class of multipurpose offshore ships built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy. It is planned to replace four Soldati-class light patrol frigates and eight Minerva-class corvettes between 2021/2035. As part of the 2014 Naval Law, a total of sixteen ships are planned and as of 2019 seven vessels have been financed with three more on option. The PPAs are part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Government and Parliament and started in May 2015 (“Naval Act”) under the aegis of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement).
The class, designed with a high level of modularity and automation, will be delivered in a full, a light+ and a light configuration in terms of different sensors and equipments embarked and can perform multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to civil protection operations and, in its most highly equipped version, first line fighting vessel. The Light configuration has only gun armament. The Light+ and Full options also mount Aster anti-aircraft missiles and torpedoes. All configuration have the option to mount TESEO “EVO” MK2/E anti-ship missile launchers.
The Italian Navy ordered the new MBDA TESEO MK/2E heavy-duty missile (TESEO “EVO”), a long-range anti-ship missile with also strategic land attack capability. The missile will have a new terminal “head” with dual RF seeker (Radio Frequency) and, presumably, date the need to even attack ground targets, IIR (Imaging IR). Compared to the predecessor OTOMAT/TESEO, the TESEO “EVO” MK/2E has a double range or more than 360 km. Former OTOMAT is accredited for a range of action of more than 180 km. The TESEO MK / 2E (TESEO “EVO”) with also a strategic land attack capability for the attack of ground targets.
