Italian frigate Luigi Rizzo (F 595)

Luigi Rizzo (F 595) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy which were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.[1]

Luigi Rizzo on 1 October 2017
History
Italy
NameLuigi Rizzo
NamesakeLuigi Rizzo
Builder
Laid down5 March 2013
Launched19 December 2015
Commissioned20 April 2017
HomeportLa Spezia
Identification
Motto
  • In questo nome è la vittoria
  • (This name brings victory)
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeCarlo Bergamini-class frigate
Displacement6,700 tons
Length144.6 m (474.4 ft)
Beam19.7 m (64.6 ft)
Draught8.7 m (28.5 ft)
Propulsion
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); max cruise speed 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range6,800 nmi (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement199
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilitiesDouble hangar

Development and design

Planning assumptions for the Italian Navy are ten FREMM-IT of which four are anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants and six general purpose (GP) variants at a cost of 5.9 billion. The FREMM-IT will replace the Maestrale and Lupo-class frigates in service with the Italian Navy. In the 2013 Italian budget, the Italian government laid out the necessary financing for two more GP variants (FREMM-IT 7 & 8) and the contract was awarded in September 2013. On 15 April 2015, the Italian Parliament confirmed the deal between OCCAR and Orizzonte Sistemi Navali Spa (Fincantieri and Finmeccanica, since 2017 Leonardo) to begin building units 9 and 10, for 764 million Euros.

As of 16 April 2015, the Italian government has approved funding for all ten FREMM-IT to be delivered to the Italian Navy (4 ASW variants and 6 GP variants).[2]

FREMM-IT 9 & 10 will have undisclosed enhanced capabilities. All ten Italian FREMM-ITs have extended anti-aircraft warfare AAW capabilities, with SAAM-ESD CMS, Aster 30 and Aster 15 missiles for extended area defence. SAAM-ESD CMS use Leonardo MFRA, a 3D active radar (AESA), an evolved version of the Leonardo EMPAR PESA radar (previously embarked on Horizon-class destroyers and the aircraft carrier Cavour). Since the seventh FREMM-IT, there will be updates, such as new conformal IFF antenna and much more stealth response. Since the ninth FREMM-IT, SCLAR-H replaced with Leonardo ODLS-20. In 2017 the Italian FREMM refit started with the installation on each of two SITEP MS-424 acoustic guns.

In 2020 it was reported that Italy would sell its last two FREMM-class frigates in the current production line (Spartaco Schergat and Emilio Bianchi) to Egypt. Spartaco Schergat was in the final stage of her sea trials while Emilio Bianchi would follow within one year. The deal reportedly also involved other military equipment and was worth 1.2 billion Euros.[3] It was reported that Italy would then order two additional FREMM frigates to replace those transferred to Egypt with the anticipated delivery of the replacements by 2024.[4]

Construction and career

On 9 December 2015, the launching ceremony of the ship took place at the Fincantieri yard in Riva Trigoso. Luigi Rizzo was commissioned on 20 April 2017.

On 5 March 2021, Luigi Rizzo sailed alongside USS Dwight D. Eisenhower while transiting the Strait of Gibraltar.[5]

References

  1. "Fincantieri | Bergamini Class". www.fincantieri.com. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  2. "Fincantieri – Bergamini Class". www.fincantieri.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. "Egypt would have signed an order with Italy for the delivery of two FREMM frigates". navyrecognition.com. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. de Briganti, Giovanni (30 July 2020). "Italian Minister Confirms Sale of Two Frigates to Egypt". defense-aerospace.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. "USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Now in Mediterranean Sea after Strait of Gibraltar Transit". USNI News. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
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