Fincantieri PPA patrol ship

Fincantieri PPA patrol ship at EURONAVAL 2014

Published on Oct 31, 2014

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index....
Fincantieri PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente D?Altura), Offshore Polyvalent Patrol, is first revealed at EURONAVAL 2014. The vessel can perform a wide range of offshore patrolling missions thanks to its innovative modular sections conception. PPA have been chosen by Italian Navy for the replacement program of Italian corvettes, patrol vessels and Durand de la Penne destroyer

http://youtu.be/p6Z2lW12lo8

Is this a similar concept as the Damen Crossover design?


-----JT-----

Crossover is a Dutch Absalon - a simple design by people with serious commercial credentials, focused on maximum payload/volume at the lowest cost.


PPA is the Italian LCS/SCS. A make-work project designed by Powerpoint admirals in collusion with domestic industry, without any kind of serious analysis of requirements or validated CONOPS to justify some of the key design drivers. The story goes like this: "We want something small and cheap... don't call it a frigate, because we need lots of them. Oh and please make it fast... and don't forget to add these modules/goodies because we need to support XYZ domestic manufacturer. Hmm nice, almost there... now make it a little more like a frigate please. Oh did I mention it needs to be cheap?"


OK that may be uncharitable, but the Italian naval forums don't seem too positive. Smells too much of "can I have my cake and eat it too".


Notice that the Danes never bought into the "small and cheap" fallacy, let alone into the "small, cheap and fast... frigate that isn't a frigate" pipe dream...