Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), the joint venture between Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), has signed a contract worth of approximately €3.7 billion, of which approximately €1.3 billion optionally, with OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement), the European organisation that manages multinational development, acquisition and support programmes in the life cycle of complex weapon systems and military vehicles. The The order involves the development, production, logistical and the Initial In Service Support (ISS) of two DDX destroyers of new generation intended for the Italian Navy. Under the programme, OSN will conclude in the next few weeks the sub-contracting contracts with Fincantieri and Leonardo, which will respectively have a value of approximately 1.8 billion euro (of which approximately 800 million euro in option) and approximately 1.7 billion euros (of which about 480 million in option).

The new ships will be designed to operate within highly interconnected multinational forces and will be characterized by high levels of digitization, automation and integration between sensors, weapon systems, control systems and multi-domain control and platform management systems. The architecture of the combat system will also be developed to ensure high levels of interoperability and information sharing and management. Among the main innovations planned on the platform include a sub-network in direct current with its storage system, an innovative stabilization system integrated with the governance system, new algorithms and methodologies for the calculation of heat and and further digital evolutions of Ship Management System.

On the combat system front, the DDX unit, thanks to the new generation C5I SADOC 5, the fully equipped AESA radar high-power digital S-band and MBDA's weapon system will be equipped with an IAMD (Integrated Air & Missile Defence) against missile, ballistic and hypersonic threats unprecedented, ensuring full interoperability which represents the core of the technology behind it of Leonardo's Michelangelo project.

The two ships built by Fincantieri represent the evolution of and the replacement of the destroyers of the "Horizon" class. The DDX destroyers, with a displacement of 13,500 tons, They will be 180 meters long, will have 251 crew members and 4,000 nautical miles of autonomy. The deliveries of the first and the second units are expected in 2033 and 2035.

Meanwhile, it took place today at the Muggiano plant (La Spezia) of Fincantieri the PPA delivery ceremony - Multipurpose Combat Ship Domenico Millelire made for the Italian Navy. The unit is part of the renewal of the operational lines of the naval units of the Navy decided by the government and parliament and launched under the aegis of the of OCCAR.