Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has launched Emilio Bianchi (F589), the tenth and last FREMM frigate to be delivered to the Italian Navy.
The launching ceremony took place at the integrated shipyard of Riva Trigoso (Genoa) on January 25 in the presence of the Italian Minister of Defence, Lorenzo Guerini.
After the launching, fitting activities will continue in the integrated naval shipyard of Muggiano (La Spezia), with delivery scheduled in 2021, Fincantieri said.
The newbuild will feature a high degree of flexibility and will be capable of operating in all tactical situations, according to the shipbuilder.
With a length of 144 meters and a beam of 19.7 meters, the ship will have a displacement at a full load of approximately 6,700 tons. In addition, it will have a maximum speed of over 27 knots and a maximum accommodation capacity for 200 crew members.
The ten vessels have been commissioned to Fincantieri by the Italian Navy within the framework of an Italo-French cooperation program under the coordination of Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement (OCCAR), an international organization for cooperation on arms.
The program includes the construction of a total of eighteen ships for the navies of Italy and France, ten for Italy and eight for France.