Sixth FREMM Frigate Launched

 

Today the launching ceremony of the frigate Luigi Rizzo took place at the plant in Riva Trigoso (Genova). The sixth of a series of 10 units FREMM - European Multi-Mission Frigates, was commissioned from Fincantieri by the Navy Italian in the framework of international cooperation between Italy and France, with the coordination of OCCAR, the joint organization for European cooperation in armaments.

Godmother to the ship was Wilhelmina Maria Rizzo, daughter of Luigi Rizzo, two gold medals for bravery.

The ceremony was attended, among others, Giovanni Toti, President of the Liguria Region, the Vice Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi, Chief of Staff of the Navy, and am the CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono.

Following the launch, the unit will continue the efforts of preparation at the Integrated Military Naval Shipyard site Muggiano, in La Spezia, and will be delivered in early 2017. Ship "Luigi Rizzo" will be characterized, like the others, from high flexibility of use and will have the ability to operate in all tactical situations. It has a length of 144 meters, a width of 19.7 meters and a full load displacement of about 6,700 tons. It can reach a speed of over 27 knots with a maximum capacity of staff of 200 people transported.

The ships of the FREMM program represents the state of the Italian and European defense and will gradually replace the class frigates Lupo and Maestrale class, built by Fincantieri in the seventies. During 2013 were delivered Carlo Bergamini and Virginio Fasan, in 2014 the Carlo Margottini, in 2015 the policeman, while Alpine is scheduled for delivery in 2016. With the exercise of ' option, in April, for the construction of the ninth and tenth units, whose delivery is expected after 2020, it is fully implemented to the Italian program.

The initiative sees the participation as a prime contractor for Italy of Horizon Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri, 49% Finmeccanica) and France's Armaris (DCNS + Thales).

This cooperation has capitalized on the experience of the previous French-Italian program "Horizon" that led to the construction of two destroyers for the Italian Navy, l '"Andrea Doria" and "Caio Duilio".