Naval News – The ninth Bergamini-class Spartaco Schergat (F 598) FRegata Europea Multi-Missione (FREMM) frigate, supplied by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN) joint venture between Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%) and delivered to Italian Navy on 15 April as part of the Franco-Italian international cooperation program managed by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement), is the first of two FREMMs in a new configuration for anti-surface (AsuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) called FREMM ASW-enhanced. Naval News brings you the latest programme details in this feature by Luca Peruzzi.

Atlantic Council – Italy is one of the major European powers that does recognize the importance of the Indo-Pacific, and its recent naval deployments to the region show that Rome is serious about playing a role in its security. But Italy needs to do so in a way that is sustainable, consistent, and makes use of its specific military expertise and capabilities. It will also need to carry out its Indo-Pacific strategy while keeping Euro-Mediterranean security as its top priority. Perhaps most important, Italy must avoid several possible pitfalls ahead that could hamper its efforts. A successful approach means not simply doing more in the Indo-Pacific. It means doing more of the right things that play to Italy’s strengths.

(Thanks to Alain)

CIMSEC – The Italian Navy deployed in force to the Indo-Pacific in the second half of 2024, sending a Carrier Strike Group comprised of the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and frigate ITS Alpino, along with the independent deployments of ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli and ITS Amerigo Vespucci. These deployments, which represented various firsts for Italy, underpin, underscore, and operationalize the Meloni administration’s pursuit of new strategic horizons far beyond the Mediterranean Sea.

Naval News – The Italian Navy’s Bergamini-class frigate ITS Antonio Marceglia (F-597) departed from La Spezia on January 20, 2025, en route to Indo-Pacific region to take part in exercises, exhibitions and visit regional countries.

Navy News – On 7 December, the Marina Militare has received the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Trieste (L 9890) from Fincantieri. This new generation vessel is one of the most advanced ship dedicated to amphibious warfare, worldwide.

Naval News – According to the recently unveiled Italian Defence Multi-Year Planning document (DPP, Documento Programmatico Pluriennale) for 2024-26, priorities in the naval domain include means to counter emerging threats, the renewal and enhancement of the underwater, surface and airborne platforms and weapons components together with the strengthening of the joint 5th generation aircraft expeditionary force.

USNI News – The Itatlian Navy’s extended deployment to the Pacific resulted in its sea-based F-35B Lightning II fighter achieving initial operational capability and exercising with partners in the Indo-Pacific deployment, said CSG commander Rear Adm. Giancarlo Ciappina.

USNI News – The Italian Navy announced Monday that its carrier-based F-35B Lightning II fighter fleet reached initial operational capability.

War on the Rocks – The Cavour carrier strike group’s arrival in Tokyo should not be seen as yet another European “showing the flag” journey in distant waters. It comes hot on the heels of a substantive training and engagement schedule in which engagement with Asian partners advances Italy’s pursuit of a fifth-generation carrier strike capability and signals the country’s concerns over the fragility of the international maritime order. It is a flag-bearer for an economic connectivity strategy and a security strategy for the Mediterranean in which the geographical boundaries of this theatre extend eastwards beyond the western Indian Ocean. These are important political steps indicating a commitment to maintaining a technological edge in defense and to working with others to do so — regardless of geographical boundaries, because their uses apply across different interlinked theatres.

RUSI – The recent meeting linking Italy, the UK and Japan through the Global Combat Air Programme, alongside the participation of the Cavour Carrier Strike Group in Exercise Pitch Black, showcase a country with growing links to the Indo-Pacific and the will to act upon them.

The War Zone – Italy has announced plans to equip the F-35B stealth fighters operated by its naval air arm with the Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile (JSM), among other weapons. Details of the armament for the Italian Navy’s short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs emerge as the aircraft take part for the first time in the large-scale Pitch Black drills in Australia, aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour.

Ad Analisidifesa – On the occasion of the Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2024, an important conference-exhibition on the naval sector that is now held annually in Great Britain (Farnborough) in May, and this year particularly focused on the underwater, the Italian Navy has provided more details on the future plans of its underwater component.

(In Italian)

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – The Italian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group based on the Cavour (CVH 550) STOVL aircraft carrier escorted by the Alpino (F 594) Bergamini-class frigate has left the Taranto naval base on 1st June for a five-month operational campaign across the Indo-Pacific region.

Covert Shores – An Uncrewed ‘narco submarine’, based on a fiberglass kayak has been discovered by Italian police. The Torino Carabinieri reported that the vessel had been tested on a lake.

(Thanks to Alain)

CBS – Italian police announced Tuesday the seizure of a remote-controlled submarine likely intended to transport drugs as part of an international drug trafficking network, marking the discovery of a much smaller version of the so-called “narco subs”that are routinely spotted in international waters.

(Thanks to Alain)

BulgarianMilitary – Italy’s navy is poised to incorporate three unmanned submarines, known as the Blue Wave, directly from the production line of Israel’s renowned Israel Aerospace Industry. Here are more details on the Blue Wave.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – The Italian Ministry of Defence has recently submitted to the Italian Parliament a request to approve the programme for a new long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capability for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.

El Snorkel – The need was to eliminate the formation and sedimentation of sea salt in the periscopes. (In Spanish)

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – As part of the European Operation Aspides, Italy has become the fifth country to engage Houthi threats over the Red Sea.

War on the Rocks – Amidst Washington’s push for European support in the Indo-Pacific, has Italy proven overly eager to pivot east? Faced with the choice between directly supporting U.S. efforts to counter Beijing in the region or concentrating resources on emerging threats closer to home, Italy, as one of the most active contributors to U.S.- or NATO-led military initiatives, has opted for the former. Without much debate, Italy has expanded its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, initiating significant collaborations with various regional countries, and deploying naval units to the region. As Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently announced, this effort will intensify in 2024, when Rome deploys its aircraft carrier strike group to the area.

Naval News – Italy is seeking a new, more capable maritime patrol aircraft to deliver anti-submarine warfare output to counter an increasing submarine threat in the Mediterranean Sea. The aim is to acquire this capability by the end of the decade.

Naval News – Alongside other European countries, Italy plans to deploy its Navy and potentially a carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific to display commitment to the region.

Naval News – The Italian Ministry of Defence announced on 19 December that the Bergamini-class FREMM Frigate Virginio Fasan (F 591) was set to leave “in the next few hours” the Mediterranean Sea to reach the Red Sea and contribute to the protection of the international trade under the national Operation “Mediterraneo Sicuro”.

Covert Shores – Italy’s elite naval special forces, COMSUBIN (aka Incursori / GOI), is extremely secretive. And their swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs) and submarines are among their best kept secrets. Only now, after it has been retired, has the BIR-87 been displayed to the public. 

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Among the new programmes which are launched to achieve these goals in the changing worldwide geostrategic scenarios, the DPP 2023-25 highlights increasing attention towards the underwater dimension with the project to enforce the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities through emerging and disruptive technologies, with specific reference to the robotics and unmanned systems.