The new Amendment introduces technical modifications to LSS “Vulcano” equipment to meet Italian Navy’s needs. It includes the acquisition and the integration on board of the New Generation Surface Radar Columbus and the implementation of new equipment concerning the Hospital Area.
ITS “Vulcano” is currently undergoing sea trials as part of the Qualification and Acceptance phase. She is scheduled to be delivered to the Italian Navy at the early beginning of 2021, and will see the kick-off of the In Service Support phase.
With France joining in January 2019, four more Logistic Support Ships will follow the path of their elder sister “Vulcano”. The BRF program (bâtiments ravitailleurs de force or force replenishment vessel) is currently in Critical Design Phase, set to end in April 2021. In parallel, the production phase started in Saint-Nazaire on 16 May 2020. The LSS1, “Jacques Chevallier” is scheduled to be delivered to the French Navy in December 2022.
In addition, the Chief of Italian Navy also unveiled plans to fund under the DPP 2020-22 planning document the procurement of an additional Vulcano-class Logistic Support Ship, which first-of-class is to be delivered in early 2021.
About Vulcano LSS
According to Fincantieri, the LSS is a vessel that provides logistics support to the fleet, endowed with hospital and healthcare capabilities thanks to the presence of a fully equipped hospital, complete with operating rooms, radiology and analysis rooms, a dentist’s office and hospital rooms that will be capable of hosting up to 17 seriously injured patients. The ship combines capacity to transport and transfer to other transport vessels used for liquids (diesel fuel, jet fuel, fresh water) and solids (emergency spare parts, food and ammunitions) and to perform at sea repairs and maintenance work for other vessels. The defense systems are limited to the capacity of command and control in tactical scenarios, communications and dissuasive, non-lethal defense systems. The vessel is also capable of embarking more complex defence systems and becoming an intelligence and electronic war platform.
- 193 meters long
- speed of about 20 knots
- 200 persons including crew and specialists
- 4 replenishment station abeam and 1 astern
- Capacity to supply drinking water to land
- Capacity to provide electricity to land with 2500 kw of power
- Possibility of embarking up to 8 residential and healthcare modules
- Capacity to perform rescues at sea, through recovery and seabed operations (the ship is equipped with an 30 tons offshore stabilized crane stabilized)
- base for rescue operations through helicopters and special vessels
