As part of the Italian Navy program of acquisition of Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, the joint venture 51% owned by Fincantieri and 49% from Leonardo, signed with the Directorate of Naval Armaments of the General Secretariat of Defence/DNA the contract for the Construction of three new generation patrol boats, with options relating to three additional units and adjustments infrastructure necessary for the naval bases of Augusta, Cagliari and Messina where the ships will be based.

The total value of the contract for the first three units amounted to €925 million, including the related logistic support services. In the coming days OSN will conclude sub-contracting contracts with Fincantieri and Leonardo, which will have respectively a value of approximately 540 and 255 million euros.

The OPV programme responds to the need to ensure adequate presence and surveillance skills, vigilance maritime, merchant traffic control, line protection communication and exclusive economic zone, as well as activities protection against threats arising from marine pollution, such as spill of toxic liquids. With a length of about 95 meters, a displacement of 2,300 tons and the capacity to accommodate 97 crew members, the new patrol boats will stand out for the concentration of technological solutions, as well as for standards of excellence in terms of automation and maneuverability, that will make them suitable to operate in a wide range of scenarios tactics and weather conditions.

Meanwhile, OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) has awarded to Naviris and eurosam a contract for the modernization of mid-life upgrade (MLU) of Horizon class frigates Italian and French. The two co-contractors, Naviris and eurosam, work closely with their shareholders, Fincantieri and Naval Group for the frigate, MBDA Italy, MBDA France and Thales for the new generation of the Principal Anti-Air system Missile System & Long-Range Radar (PAAMS & LRR).

The contract value for Naviris and eurosam is 1.5 billions of euros. In more detail, in the coming days Naviris will finalize subcontracting contracts, including the with Fincantieri, which will have a value of 211 million euros.

"Horizon" class frigates were built between 2000 and 2010 as part of a joint programme between Fincantieri and Naval Group, equipping the Italian Navy and that French of innovative frigates with anti-aircraft capabilities.