On July 30, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, Italy’s Fincantieri, officially delivered the multi-purpose frigate “Emilio Bianchi” to the Italian Navy.
This is the tenth unit of the FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigates) class commissioned from Orizzonte Sistemi Navali as part of the Italy-France international cooperation agreement, whose contract was signed with OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement).
With the delivery of the “Emilio Bianchi,” the construction of the naval units in the Anti-Submarine Enhanced configuration under the FREMM program has been completed. This is one of the most ambitious European initiatives in naval defense, launched in 2005, with the first ship delivered in May 2013. The program involved the construction of ten units: four in the General Purpose configuration, four in the Anti-Submarine Warfare configuration, and two in the Anti-Submarine Enhanced configuration.
In line with the objectives of the FREMM project, two next-generation “EVOLUTION” frigates – called “FREMM EVO” – are currently under construction at Fincantieri’s integrated shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with delivery scheduled for 2029 and 2030, respectively.
The “Emilio Bianchi,” built at Fincantieri’s Integrated Shipyard in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, is equipped with the most advanced systems developed by Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA, and Elettronica. Like the other FREMM units, it is characterized by high operational flexibility and is capable of operating in all tactical scenarios. The ship is 144 meters long, 19.7 meters wide, and has a full-load displacement of approximately 6,700 tons. It can reach speeds of over 27 knots and accommodate up to 200 people onboard.
FREMM frigates represent a technological benchmark in Europe, standing out for their innovative features and high cyber resilience, the result of extensive design and management work. The high degree of automation, state-of-the-art onboard systems, and optimized maintenance operations ensure excellent operational availability. Comprehensive Human Factors studies have contributed to the creation of functional environments designed to improve operational efficiency and crew quality of life. The ship also offers significant autonomy – about 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots – allowing it to operate for extended periods beyond the Mediterranean.
The FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigate) program is the most important joint initiative developed between European naval industries and represents the state-of-the-art of Italian and European defense.