Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri, 49% Leonardo) announced that it has signed a contract with OCCAR worth a total of approximately €3.7 billion for the development, production, logistics support, and Initial Service Support (ISS) of 2 next-generation DDX destroyers for the Italian Navy…
Approximately €1.3 billion of the contract signed with Orizzonte Sistemi Navali consists of options.
Under the program, OSN will sign sub-contracts with Fincantieri and Leonardo worth approximately €1.8 billion and €1.7 billion, respectively.
Of these, approximately €800 million of the Fincantieri contract and approximately €480 million of the Leonardo contract consist of options.
Under the construction of the 2 DDX destroyers, the first ship is expected to be delivered in 2033 and the second in 2035.
The DDX program stands out as a key program for the future naval defense capabilities of the Italian Navy, covering the development of next-generation warships intended to operate in naval environments increasingly shaped by a growing diversity of threats, rapid technological advancement, and the rising importance of integration across different operational domains.
As system integrator, Fincantieri will develop the ship platform and its advanced digital infrastructure, while Leonardo will be responsible for the design and development of the combat system.
The new DDX destroyers are planned to feature a high degree of digitalization and automation, as well as integration capability between sensors, weapon systems, multi-domain command-and-control systems, and platform management systems.
The DDX class will replace the Italian Navy’s Horizon-class air-defense destroyers, advancing the capabilities of these platforms to a new level.
The DDX will have a length of approximately 180 meters, a displacement of 13,500 tons, and a cruising range of 4,000 nautical miles.
At the core of the combat system are the Leonardo SADOC 5 C5I command-and-control system, a high-power, fully digital S-band AESA radar, and the MBDA integrated weapon system.
The DDX is planned to provide Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability against air-breathing threats as well as ballistic and hypersonic threats, integrating its sensor, weapon, and command-and-control elements within a multi-domain operational environment…