Italian Navy press release – Translation from Italian by Luca Peruzzi
With the departure of NATO Alliance research vessel, which took place in recent days to conduct hydro-oceanographic and research activities in the Arctic Ocean, the Italian Navy is engaging eleven ships in activities outside the Mediterranean Sea, in an area that extends even beyond the geopolitical and geostrategic concept of the ‘Enlarged Mediterranean’, elaborated by the Italian MoD.
The Fasan (ASW-configured FREMM) frigate is in North America for joint training activities with the US Navy. The Margottini (ASW-configured FREMM) frigate in the North Sea for the ballistic missile defense exercise called Formidable Shield (FOSH). The San Marco amphibious ship is in Northern Europe for participation in a multinational joint exercise which will see the first activation of the national Littoral Expeditionary Group (LEG). The Rizzo (GP-configured FREMM) frigate is in the Indian Ocean for the Agenor maritime security operation. The Morosini PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) multi-purpose offshore patrol vessel is conducting an Indo-Pacific campaign. The offshore patrol vessel Borsini is in the Gulf of Guinea as part of the anti-piracy operation Gabinia. The destroyer Duilio is in the North Sea in activity with Allied Navies and the three Exploratore class coastal patrol vessels are involved in the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) in Sinai.
Eight Naval Aviation helicopters and six boarding teams from the San Marco Marine Brigade are embarked on ships operating outside the Mediterranean, with a total of personnel involved, including crews, of over 1,200 men and women.
This commitment outside the Mare Nostrum straits is in continuity with the consolidated and active participation in international operations underway in the Mediterranean basin, such as the EUNAVFOR MED Irini, the NATO’s Sea Guardian and Noble Shield operations together with the conduct of national activities including the Vigilanza Pesca (Fishing Patrol), Mediterraneo Sicuro (Secure Mediterranean) and Fondali Sicuri (Secure Seabeds) operations. With these deployments and operations, the Italian Navy continues the action over and under the sea for the protection of national interests and the safeguarding of maritime security in all areas of priority strategic interest.
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Naval News comments:
The Duilio guided missile destroyer has arrived in Poland and according to the Polish Defence Ministry of Defence, the ship will strengthen the defence of Polish coast and the protection of critical national infrastructures. The Italian ship will provide a protective air defence umbrella for at least six months.
In addition to the mentioned national and international operations in the Mediterranean basin, the Italian Navy is also contributing to the Joint Stars national joint armed forces and multi-agency multi-domain exercise with ships, submarines, helicopters and San Marco amphibious brigade personnel and assets. The exercise is expected to develop until the end of the month, Naval News understood. The Italian Navy hasn’t released information on how many ships, helicopters and personnel are involved in the Mediterranean basin, but the personnel figure could be more than double the one involved in activities outside the Mare Nostrum, Naval News understood. In addition to the ship crews and helicopter detachments, the deployed personnel also involves the San Marco Navy amphibious brigade which provides security teams on board the ships and personnel for international missions abroad, including the marine unit now involved in the Littoral Expeditionary Group (LEG) on board San Marco amphibious ship.
The service is currently also involved together with other armed forces, national security corps and police forces, alongside the civil protection in the support of rescue operations in the flooded areas of the Emilia Romagna region. The Italian Navy is currently providing one helicopter while three are maintained on alert to deploy in case of request, plus personnel of the diving group of Gruppo Operativo Subacquei (GOS) belonging to the COMSUBIN Command, alongside marines of the Navy Brigade San Marco, craft, vehicles and equipment under the command of the Joint Forces Operational Command.