The ninth Bergamini-class Spartaco Schergat (F 598) FRegata Europea Multi-Missione (FREMM) frigate, supplied by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN) joint venture between Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%) and delivered to Italian Navy on 15 April as part of the Franco-Italian international cooperation program managed by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement), is the first of two FREMMs in a new configuration for anti-surface (AsuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) called FREMM ASW-enhanced. Naval News brings you the latest programme details in this feature by Luca Peruzzi.
With the delivery of the ninth FREMM frigate to be followed by the tenth platform and second in the ASW-enhanced version by the end of July, according to OSN CEO Giovanni Sorrentino, the Bergamini class has become the largest Italian Navy’s ships component built after the Second World War. Launched under the joint Franco-Italian cooperation programme with the first FREMM for Italian Navy delivered in 2012, the Bergamini class continues to grow as Italian MoD has ordered two additional platforms in a next generation configuration called FREMM EVO. The first steel cut of the first of two new frigates was celebrated on 3 April 2025 and is planned to be delivered in 2029 followed by the second in 2030, highlighted recently the OSN CEO to Naval News, which also got the opportunity to participate to the acceptance sea going before delivery to Italian Navy.
“To cope with the evolving geostrategic scenarios, thanks to its advanced design with intrinsic growth capacities, the FREMM frigates are being delivered in five different configurations (including the export one), demonstrating high operational availability and mission flexibility,” added the OSN CEO during the delivery ceremony. In the first eight years of life, the eight operational frigates with the Italian Navy has logged about 315,000 hours of sailing, around the same accumulated during the life cycle of all the frigates of the previous Maestrale class, which last unit was recently decommissioned.
After the delivery ceremony, the Schergat frigate under the helm of commander Michele Spada moved from Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard to La Spezia naval base, being initially assigned to the Italian Navy’s 1st division, under which will conduct the preliminary training and operations, before conducting the elementary training and be fully qualified at Italian Navy’s MARICENTADD air-naval training centre based in Taranto by around the middle of this year. After the warranty dock activities which are usually conducted one year after delivery, the ship will have the final assignment with the 2nd naval division at Taranto naval base.
All Italian FREMMs delivered so far are currently managed by OCCAR in their “In Service Support (ISS)” phase. A new Through Life Sustainment Management (TLSM) contract between OCCAR and OSN is expected to be signed in June 2025 and the activities of the new contract are planned to start by July 2025.
The ASW-enhanced version
Less than five years ago, OCCAR awarded OSN as prime contractor, whole warship and combat system design authority within the FREMM joint Franco-Italian procurement programme, the contract for the delivery of the two FREMMs in the ASW-enhanced version to enforce the Italian Navy’s ASW capabilities and replace the two FREMM GP (General Purpose) sold to Egypt by Fincantieri. The new ships are identified as FoS (Follow-on Ship) 6 and 7, as in addition to the first-of-class in the GP configuration five more (FoS) were initially planned and built, including the two subsequently sold to Egypt.
The new ASW-enhanced configuration combines the hull and superstructure design and the mission suite of the FREMMs in the GP (General Purpose) configuration with the ASW suite of the so-configured FREMM frigates, together with the replacement and improvement of the on-board systems to ensure their availability and efficiency throughout the service life of the new frigates. The main external and internal differences compared to the latest GP FREMM and eighth class platform, the Antonio Marceglia frigate which was delivered in 2019, regards the stern launch and recovery station for the 11 metres RIHB under the flight deck which was replaced by the CAPTAS 4 variable depth sonar complex, as well as modifications to the secondary ship mast to accommodate a new electronic warfare equipment alongside the positioning of new systems and antennas on the ship superstructures.
The ASW-enhanced version frigates are the first of the class being equipped since their delivery with an active cyber protection system. Among the main improvements to the platform systems, the Ship Management Ship (SMS) has been brought by Fincantieri NexTech to the latest hardware and software configuration already used on the latest generation Italian Navy platforms, namely PPAs, LHD, LSSs and OPVs. The new frigates also incorporate all the improvements introduced with the previous class platforms, such as the new stations with the Martec digital damage control panel (Tabellone Riporto Danni Elettronico, TRDE), as well as the new full LED lighting, in addition to new sensors and decoy launchers.
To fulfil the latest Italian Navy General Staff requirements, a new active cyber protection system by Fincantieri NexTech for the SMS will allow the ship crew to identify possible anomalies in real time and support the management of any cybersecurity incidents, according to OCCAR statement. In this respect, the system represents the first cyber risk mitigation with the sole competence of the personnel on board, before the direct support of the Navy Cyber Department. This capability is planned to be retrofitted to in-service platforms and enhanced with the delivery of the FREMM EVO platforms.
The Leonardo SADOC 3 or Athena combat command, control and management system (CMS) suite featuring three-screens operator consoles was enhanced with the software package and features related to ASW capabilities that will be added to the surface warfare suite (ASuW) already installed. The communications package has been updated to the latest standard of the PPA, LHD, LSS and OPV with the adoption of UHF software defined radios (SDRs) and latest generation multi data link processor (MDLP) with data Link 16 and 22 by Leonardo as well as SATCOM suite enhancements. The navigation and identification package was also updated.
Designed for ASW operations, all the Bergamini-class frigates have a CODLAG (Combined Diesel-Electric And Gas turbine) configured propulsion based on two shafts with FCCP and power generation package based on a General Electric/Avio Aero 32 MW LM2500+G4 gas turbine, two Jeumont Electric 2.15 MW each PEMs and four Isotta Fraschini Motori 2.1 MW each VL1716C2ME common rail gensets which thanks to a Renk cross connected gearbox allows different propulsion configurations. These include the low-emission speed up to 15.6 knots for ASW operations on electrical motors and a maximum speed of over 27 knots with both the gas turbine and the electrical motors. The FREMMs are also equipped with a bow-mounted 1 MW retractable azimuthal thruster allowing a maximum speed of 7 knots in case of problems with the main propulsion suite and support for manoeuvres such as docking in restricted waters.
In addition to the bow-mounted Thales BlueMaster (UMS 4110) sonar already installed on the GP and ASW versions with Fincantieri’s WASS Submarine Systems mine avoidance sonar (MAS) and underwater telephone, the new units incorporates the ELAC SeaBeam 3050 2G multibeam echo sounder and the Thales CAPTAS 4 (UMS 4249) variable-depth sonar of the ASW-configured FREMMs. The former provides a water column bathymetric imaging and the capacity to find objects and map the bottom up to medium depths (3,000 meters) while the latter comprises the low-frequency, variable-depth active sonar and the multifunctional passive towed array (MFTA) for receiving acoustic signals and detecting both submarines and torpedoes. This suite together with the high platform quietness provides the Bergamini-class platforms one of the best ASW capability at world level, according to OSN.
These sensors are joined by WASS ASW DLS (Decoy Launching System) suite comprising the reaction management system (RMS) together with the two B530 launchers each with twelve anti-torpedo decoys, being either the current MTE (Mobile Target Emulator) jammers or the future MJTE (Mobile Jammer Target Emulator) systems by WASS. With the installation of the CAPTAS 4 VDS in place of the 11 m RHIB launch and recovery system mounted on the GP variant, the new frigates are capable to launch and recover these boats of the same length by the two lateral stations of the ship.
Another key difference in terms of combat capability concerns the Integrated EW Suite (IEWS), which belongs to the same new generation and “software defined” family developed and installed by ELT Group (Elettronica) on board the PPAs, LHD and latest platforms. The IEWS consists of the passive component comprising the RESM (Radar Electronic Support Measures) system, whose antennas are mounted, as on the previous class ships, under the multifunction radar radome on the main mast, and the CESM (Communications ESM) system, whose antenna group is installed on the top of the secondary mast replacing the Thales Altesse equipment. The active modules of the RECM system, which incorporate the latest GaN technology (instead of GaAs) and feature reduced size and weight but at the same time enhanced capabilities, are installed in the same position already used by the same equipment mounted on board the in-service frigates, i.e. in the front area of the main mast and on the left rear edge of the hangar structure. The suite also includes an EW management and control system (management unit) that allows the potential combined use together with other sensors and any jammers, such as the ones which could be installed on board the NHIndustries SH-90 helicopters and future unmanned systems.
In addition to the Leonardo Kronos Gran Naval (known as MFRA for the FREMMs) 3D multi-functional radar, the ASW-enhanced version platforms also feature an up-to-date MBDA Italia’s SAAM ESD (Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile Extended Self-Defence) system. Capable of defending nearby or escorted ships, the system includes a C2 module, new missile firing unit, and two Naval Group Sylver A50 launchers with 8 cells each for the MBDA Aster family of surface-to-air missiles. The follow-on two next generation FREMM EVO platforms will also accommodate two Naval Group Sylver A70 launchers with 8 cells each for surface-to-air or land attack missiles. On the in-service and the two ASW-enhanced version FREMM platforms, the Italian Navy has devoted the space allocated for these VLSs to additional accommodations for personnel.
The Leonardo sensor suite also includes two NA-25X multi-sensor target indicator systems with RTN-25 Orion radar and EO/IR subsystems for guns fire control, a 2D SPS-732 air and surface surveillance radar and the SIR-M-CA IFF conformal array interrogator system that responds to STANAG 4193 Edition 3, together with the Leonardo SASS (Silent Acquisition & Surveillance System) IRST system upgraded with new capabilities coming from PPA programme. The new frigates are also equipped with two Leonardo ODLS 20 launchers for both anti-air warfare and anti-torpedo decoys and two surveillance and protection systems with non-lethal weapons SX-424 MASS (multirole acoustic stabilized system).
The gun armament includes the 127/64 mm LW (LightWeight) Vulcano main gun with fully automated loading and magazine system capable of using conventional and guided long-range Vulcano ammunitions, a 76/62 mm Super Rapido gun in the Strales configuration with guidance system for DART guided ammunitions to deal with anti-ship missiles and asymmetric threats, and two 25 mm KBA manually controlled weapon systems, all by Leonardo. The two new frigates are also equipped with two WASS B515 triple launchers for Eurotorp MU90 torpedoes and four launcher stations for eight anti-ship/land attack MBDA Teseo Mk2/A missiles but ready to integrate the new Mk2/E model.
All the FREMM are designed to guarantee a complete systems redundancy based on four main vertical zone to control and operate the platform and combat systems from aft and /or fore technical operational room (combat information centre and platform information centre) when necessary.
The FREMMs have a stern flight deck and two hangars for each an NH Industries SH90 (one hangar can accommodate an EH101) helicopter or a mix including an helicopter and unmanned air systems. The Italian Navy has integrated with OSN support the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAVs, which are progressively being procured and ships being fitted for their operations, while Leonardo AWHero VTOL platform was also integrated for demonstration/evaluation purposes under the OCEAN 2020 EU’s largest collaborative defence research project.
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