Italian Navy orders five new generation coastal minehunters in €1.6 Billion deal.

On July 26, 2024, Intermarine S.p.A. (part of the IMMSI Group) and Leonardo S.p.A. formalized a contract with NAVARM, the Italian Directorate of Naval Armaments of the General Secretariat of Defense and National Armaments Directorate. This contract, signed as a Temporary Consortium (RTI), involves the supply of five New Generation Coastal Minehunters (CNG/C) and related logistical support, valued at €1.6 billion, with an additional €1 billion in options for program completion.
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The existing fleet consists of ten minehunters from the Lerici-class and Gaeta-class, including the Chioggia, which have played a central role in the Navy’s mine countermeasure operations. (Picture source: Italian Navy)

Intermarine's share of the contract is €1.165 billion, representing approximately 73% of the total, while Leonardo's share is €430 million, or approximately 27%. This distribution is also expected for the optional tranches worth around €1 billion. Intermarine will act as the lead contractor and design authority for the CNG/C units, providing the platform system, while Leonardo will be the principal contractor, design authority, and supplier of the combat system.

This contract follows significant investments in research and development on new materials and production technologies. It builds on preliminary studies conducted under a 2021 contract between Intermarine and NAVARM, which focused on risk reduction and the definition of the CNG unit project. The CNG/C program addresses the need to renew the National Mine Countermeasures Component amid increasing international tensions and maritime threats, as evidenced by recent conflicts in strategic areas of interest to Italy, including the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Baltic Sea.

With a length of approximately 63 meters and a displacement of around 1,300 tons, the New Generation Coastal Minehunters will have hulls resistant to shocks from underwater explosions. (Picture source: Leonardo)

The New Generation Coastal Minehunters will have hulls resistant to shocks from underwater explosions and low magneto-acoustic signatures. These features, combined with the latest combat system technologies such as sonar and multi-domain command and control, will enable the units to carry out a range of missions. These missions include clearing mined areas and conducting seabed surveillance to protect critical underwater infrastructure, such as oil and gas pipelines and maritime data networks, as well as preserving cultural heritage and the marine environment.

With a length of approximately 63 meters and a displacement of around 1,300 tons, the CNG units will conduct mine clearance operations within potentially mined fields, ensuring crew safety by employing various types of autonomous vehicles. The CNG units, with their technical and operational features, are expected to be among the most innovative mine countermeasure units worldwide, underscoring Italy's role in the field of mine warfare and underwater operations.

In an international context where NATO and advanced military navies must renew their conventional minehunter fleets, the CNG program is poised to be influential, with potential for export and international cooperation. The naval units will be produced at Intermarine's shipyards in Sarzana (La Spezia), leading to significant employment growth and an increase in the company’s workforce. Leonardo will produce and supply the entire combat system, including the cyber-resilient SADOC 4 command and control system, advanced radar and electro-optical sensors, a new broadband mine detection and classification sonar, and an integrated multi-band communication and data link system to ensure effective interoperability.