https://www.edrmagazine.eu/pdfviewer/edr-magazine-90-november-december-2026?auto_viewer=true#page=&zoom=page-fit&pagemode=none
The Italian MoD and Navy are running a programme,
via the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), for two “New Generation Destroyers” or “NG DDG” under the DDX programme with a current budget of € 3.7 billion including the development, production,
logistic studies and initial In Service Support (ISS). The initial € 2.4 billion contract was signed between OCCAR and prime contractor Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), the JV between Fincantieri (51%) and
Leonardo (49%) in late September 2026 for the first ship to be delivered in 2033, with option for the second one in 2035. The Italian Navy has plans for two additional ships. Designed with the IAMD as the
main mission together with deep land strike, the new DDGs will have a full load displacement of 13,500 tonnes, a length and beam of respectively 180 and 25 meters, and a propulsion package based on two gas turbines of around 32 MW-each, two 8 MW-each main diesel engines and two 3 MW-each reversible electric motors, one each on the two shafts, providing a 30 knots maximum speed (on gas turbines). The electric power generation and distribution suite with four diesel generator sets is designed to satisfy
the need of future systems such as DEWs. With accommodations for around 250 personnel, the NG DDG will have a next iteration of Fincantieri NexTech SeasNavy Integrated Platform Management System
(IPMS) together with a 5th generation (SADOC 5) cyber resilience, open architecture ‘virtualized’ CMS
characterized by disruptive technologies (AI) and a full communication suite with data link 16/22 and SATCOM by Leonardo. The sensors suite will include the new air defence S-band fully digital, software- defined AESA long-range and the powerful 4 fixed-faces (4FF) radar being developed by Leonardo;
these will be installed on the two ship superstructure blocks alongside the already available air/surface X-band 4FF AESA radar on the main integrated mast together with IFF, which are controlled by a system
manager allowing integrated operations with the EW suite by ELT Group. The latter includes RESM/CESM/RECM/CECM equipment with two Leonardo ODLS 20 launchers for both AAW and torpedo decoys that will
be sided by the ELT Group Zenithal jammer against space-based synthetic aperture radar satellitepayloads. The ASW suite will include a Thales bow-mounted and Leonardo anti-collision/mine avoidance
sonar together with a Thales passive towed array mainly for anti-torpedo duties. WASS will provide the anti-torpedo systems with decoys while SITEP Italia will supply MASS (Multirole Acoustic Stabilized System)
surveillance and non-lethal weapons package.
The NG DDG will feature a new air defence missile system by MBDA Italia centred on new C2, fire control
unit and Naval Group Sylver A50 VLSs, to be sided in the future by a new multi-missile VLS, to be developed
under a contract to be awarded to Italian industry.
The new DDGs will have a total of 80 cells (32 larger cells in the bow area [objeto de desarrollo por parte de la industria italiana] and 48 smaller amidships) capable to accommodate in the future a wide range of missiles including the air-defence MBDA Aster 30
family with the Block 1NT munition and future Aquila interceptor against ballistic and hypersonic weapons
to be developed as a result of OCCAR-managed HYDIS² programme. The new ships will have four
4-cell inclined launchers for the MBDA Italia Teseo Mk2E long-range anti-ship/land attack missile to be sided in the future by the trinational MBDA Stratus LO (Low Observability) new deep strike cruise missile.
The gun armament includes three Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido with Strales guided munitions to counter missiles and asymmetric threats associated to four Leonardo NA-30S Mk2 fire control units
alongside four 30 mm Lionfish RCWS with air-burst munitions and fire directors, two of which are planned to be replaced in the future by Leonardo/MBDA Italia DEWs, and two WASS 3-tube LWT launchers. Two
hangars and stern flight deck for MPH-101/NFH90 helicopters with MBDA Marte ER anti-ship missile and MU90 LWTs are also available
