The Italian Navy has officially received the multi-role frigate Emilio Bianchi, the tenth and final vessel built under Italy’s FREMM program (European Multi-Mission Frigate). The delivery ceremony took place at the Muggiano shipyard, owned by the Fincantieri group.
The delivery marks the completion of a two-decade naval defense effort in cooperation with France, coordinated by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). The Emilio Bianchi is the second ship in the series to be delivered in the Anti-Submarine Enhanced configuration, completing the construction of the ten planned FREMM frigates for the Italian Navy.
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Launched in 2005, the Italian FREMM program included four general-purpose frigates, four specialized in anti-submarine warfare, and two with enhanced anti-submarine capabilities. The first unit was delivered in May 2013.
Built at the integrated shipyards of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, the Emilio Bianchi measures 144 meters in length, 19.7 meters in width, and has an approximate displacement of 6,700 tons. The frigate can reach speeds of over 27 knots and has a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. It can accommodate up to 200 crew members.
The vessel incorporates advanced systems supplied by companies such as Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA, and Elettronica, enabling versatile operations in various naval scenarios.
With the delivery of the final FREMM, Fincantieri is now focusing its efforts on developing the FREMM EVO frigates, a new generation of warships, with two units scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2030.
Source and images: Instagram @fincantieri | fincantieri. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
