Work begins on second Italian Navy PPA
Fincantieri has begun construction of the second Italian Navy Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship (PPA), the company announced on 3 October.
The unit will be delivered in 2022 and is part of the Italian Navy vessel renewal plan which started in May 2015.
The 132.5m PPA will serve 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 PPA will have a speed of over 31 knots and a combined diesel, electric and a gas turbine plant. It will come in different configurations: starting from a ‘soft’ version for the patrol task, an integrated self-defence variant, and a variant equipped to deal with three-dimensional threats, including both air and surface.
The vessel will also be capable of operating rigid hull inflatable boat up to 11m long through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern.
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