Fincantieri press release
The value of the contract is approx. 410 million euros including the combat system.
As part of the multi-year program aimed at safeguarding Italy’s Defence at-sea capacity (known as the “Naval Act”), Fincantieri is currently building seven multi-purpose offshore patrol vessels (PPA) – the first one, “Thaon di Revel”, was delivered in March – and the “Trieste” Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD). Last year the Group delivered the “Vulcano” LSS, a vessel launched at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard. That project was also acquired by the French Navy for the definition of the Flotlog program, a series of units built in partnership with the same shipyard.
The basic characteristic common to all three classes of ships is their very high level of innovation, which makes them extremely flexible in their various profiles of use with a high degree of efficiency. Most importantly, it will be possible to use these units in a complementary way even for non-military-related activities, such as, for example, supporting civil protection in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Moreover, their environmental impact is low, thanks to advanced low pollution emission generators and electric-drive propulsion motors and biological waste control systems.
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Naval News comments:
The first LSS, ITS Vulcano, was delivered to the Italian Navy in March 2021.
As Naval News previously reported, the Chief of Italian Navy unveiled plans to fund under the DPP 2020-22 planning document the procurement of this additional Vulcano-class Logistic Support Ship.
The LSS were initially expected to be fitted with a 76mm main gun with STRALES (DAVIDE) guided ammunition for air defense. It appears that they will be “fitted for but not with” for the time being…
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 related 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.
LSS Vulcano-class main specifications
- 193 meters long
- speed of about 20 knots
- 235 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
