OCCAR has officially delivered the 10th Italian FREMM frigate, the “Emilio Bianchi” to the Marina Militare Italiana, the Italian Navy. The ceremony at the Muggiano shipyard (La Spezia) was attended by the OCCAR-EA Director, Mr. Joachim Sucker, the Italian Program Committee Representative Vice Admiral Giuseppe Abbamonte, Director of the Italian Naval Directorate, the Vice Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, the Admiral Flavio Biaggi, Commander of the IT Navy Northern Maritime Interregional Command and Chairman of the Q&A Committee. Industry was represented by the CEO of ORIZZONTE SISTEMI NAVALI S.p.A., Eng Giovanni Sorrentino, and senior managers from FINCANTIERI and Leonardo
The ITS Emilio Bianchi marks a historic milestone as it is the last “Legacy” FREMM frigate delivered to the Italian Navy, and the second unit featuring the “Anti-Submarine-Warfare-enhanced” version. With this delivery, OCCAR completes the original FREMM program phase, under which Italy has now received all ten FREMM ships.
The completion of the FREMM Legacy phase is a testament to the commitment and excellence of the entire FREMM Franco-Italian cooperative program community demonstrates the effectiveness of multinational collaboration in providing state-of-the-art defense solutions. The FREMM Program has been recognized as one of the most successful examples of European defense cooperation, managed through OCCAR’s HORIZON-FREMM Program Division.
The delivery of the ITS Bianchi was achieved three months ahead of schedule, and only three months after the delivery of ITS Schergat: a result of the effective collaboration between OCCAR (Organization for Joint Armament Co-operation), Italian governmental representatives, and industry. Following a brief training period for the crew, the frigate will be deployed on operational maritime missions.
The Italian Navy has chosen to name this ship “Emilio Bianchi”, a name that carries great prestige. Emilio Bianchi was a member of the elite Decima Flottiglia MAS and a highly decorated petty officer. Bianchi’s actions during the Second World War were recognized with the prestigious Gold Medal of Military Valour, Italy’s highest military decoration.
To date, 18 FREMM frigates have been delivered under the program—ten to Italy and eight to France.
Looking to the future, two additional FREMM frigates in the new EVO-lution” configuration are scheduled to be delivered to the Italian Navy in 2029 and 2030, under the contract amendment signed in July 2024.
These units are designed to deal with new and increasingly insidious threats in the various theatres of operation where naval ships will be deployed.