Italian defence, €5.5 billion to renew the fleet

Rome -The process for the final approval of funding for the renewal of the navy’s fleet closes with a discussion of the multi-annual program document for Defence 2014-2016, which calls for, the financing of nine new ships worth €5.5 billion. Part of the package is the continuation and completion of the Fremm MultiMissione program, including the construction of its ninth and tenth units, whose cost is projected at €780 million. The government will exercise this option in April 2015, in addition to paying a €40 million penalty to France. The financing for the new ships includes six (plus options for four more) sea-going multi-purpose patrol vessels for maritime surveillance and security; another sea-going logistical support unit (Logistic Support Ship - LSS) with broad-spectrum logistical support capacities; an amphibious multi-role unit (Landing Helicopter Dock - LHD) with broad interoperability requirements for the common European defence policy, particularly because of its capacities for embarkation, transport, drop-off and deployment and support for amphibious and aerial units; two high-speed and high-tech multifunctional naval ships to support Special Forces. Inserted by Minister Roberta Pinotti’s in the program document, the renovation of the naval fleet was already called for in the law on the stability of funding items for development to sustain the shipbuilding industry with the construction of nine new navy ships.

“With this latest parliamentary measure - Vito Vattuone, the PD (Democratic Party) leader in the Senate Defence Committee, explained, “the financing for the navy’s program to build nine new military ships of primary strategic importance from many points of view will be completed and made operational. The measure is in line with the often-demonstrated need to renew, modernize and implement the navy’s fleet, also taking the changing conditions in the Mediterranean scene - an essential strategic area- into consideration. On the other hand, the execution of the program is also the result of a strategic choice on the industrial front. Its execution will allow employment to reach the saturation point in the shipyards that are dedicated to the production of new military ships, and I am thinking of Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso and Muggiano plants in particular. In general, this should guarantee employment for about ten years. It’s great news for the Region of Liguria. And it is realistic,” Vattuone concluded, “set a goal and plan to have the contracts signed by the end of the year.” It is also “excellent news” for Antonio Apa, who is the general secretary of the UILM labour union in Liguria: “In this case, the Renzi government has shown that it is interested in keeping the Italian manufacturing system alive. The confirmation of the Fremm program and the approval of funding for the renewal of the fleet only strengthens Fincantieri’s as it prepares for its IPO, after it has been held hostage by the FIOM union and by the politics of Liguria, and the Regional Counsel first of all.”