Fincantieri Delivers New Combat Ship in Ongoing Enhancement of Italian Navy

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered a new warship to the Italian Navy as part of a larger plan to improve Italy’s defense fleet. The ship, named Giovanni delle Bande Nere, honors a famous 15th-century captain from the Medici family. This is the fourth ship in the series, and more ships will be completed by 2026.

Fincantieri is proud of this achievement, as it is part of a bigger program approved by the Italian government and parliament to renew the Italian Navy’s fleet. The company builds both warships and cruise ships, so this project helps balance its revenue streams.

Diversification and flexibility: Building ships for net zero

The Giovanni delle Bande Nere is 469 feet (143 meters) long and can reach speeds of over 31 knots thanks to its diesel and gas turbine engines, as well as an electric propulsion system. It can carry 171 crew members and was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia, Italy.

This new type of ship is very flexible. It can be used for patrol missions, rescue operations, or even as a front-line combat ship. Depending on how it’s set up, it can handle different jobs, like maritime surveillance or quick responses to emergencies. It also has the ability to provide drinking water and electric power to people on land. The ship can launch Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats using a special crane or ramp.

This is the second ship in Italy’s modern navy to be named Giovanni delle Bande Nere. The first was a light cruiser launched in 1930 that served during the early years of World War II. Sadly, it was sunk by a torpedo in 1942. The wreck was found in 2019 during a survey near the island of Stromboli.

Building naval ships is an important part of Fincantieri’s business. Recently, in September, the company also began working on a new set of offshore patrol vessels for the Italian Navy. These new ships are being built in partnership with Leonardo, a leading defense contractor in Italy. The Riva Trigoso shipyard, near Genoa, is where these advanced ships are being built. The ships will have new technologies that improve automation and maneuverability, including an integrated naval cockpit developed with Leonardo’s help.