Italian Navy DDX

Phoenix_jz said:
Further indications that we're close to getting contracts for DDX:

-snip-
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Forgot to post it, but Fincantieri's Q1 2026 results mentioned that the DDX contract would be in the next few months (a couple months ago). Most recently this is also reflected the press release from a recent OSN event:

On 26 May 2026, the DDX OSN Matchmaking Event took place in Brussels, an important networking event organized by Agoria - Belgian Security & Defence Industry (BSDI), in collaboration with OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation), within the framework of the “Industrial Global Balance” activities.

The event was attended by representatives from OCCAR, OSN, and several industries interested in the Programme.

During the event, OCCAR officially presented the DDX programme, which foresees the construction of two next-generation destroyers for the Italian Navy, with contract signing expected in the near future.

OSN, Prime Contractor of the Programme, subsequently delivered a presentation illustrating the company and the ongoing and/or upcoming programmes in which it serves and/or will serve as Whole Warship Design Authority.

Particular interest was generated by the opportunity to hold one-to-one meetings with the various industries interested in cooperating with OSN.

Special thanks to OCCAR and Agoria for organizing this important networking event, aimed at highlighting a programme that will represent a major technological leap forward for the Navy and for the entire industrial sector.
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Which also had an interesting slide showing the progress of various programs orchestrated by them:

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EmoBirb said:
Certainly unpleasant looking, but seeing several medium to small caliber gun armaments across the entire ship to combat unmanned threats is nice.
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Moreso the 30mm systems (4-5x) than the 76mm (3). Not that the 76mm can't be used to engage drones - but they are somewhat overkill for OWA-UAV threats to the ships themselves and are better left for general-purpose work (though this can still include engaging drones at longer ranges than the 30mm can manage), and anti-missile interception.
 
Phoenix_jz said:
Moreso the 30mm systems (4-5x) than the 76mm (3). Not that the 76mm can't be used to engage drones - but they are somewhat overkill for OWA-UAV threats to the ships themselves and are better left for general-purpose work (though this can still include engaging drones at longer ranges than the 30mm can manage), and anti-missile interception.
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The Italians have long seen the OTO 76mm as a CIWS (replacing the US Phalanx). There's even a version of the 76mm that is non-deck-penetrating and is just as light as a Phalanx as well!
 
Scott Kenny said:
The Italians have long seen the OTO 76mm as a CIWS (replacing the US Phalanx). There's even a version of the 76mm that is non-deck-penetrating and is just as light as a Phalanx as well!
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Same role as Phalanx, certainly. Though for the Italian experience/intent, it was actually a replacement for the 40mm DARDO, which was their first generation CIWS system that was installed on various ships authorized and built in the 1970s to the mid-1980s. That was then superseded by the 76/62 Super Rapido in the late 1980s, starting with the Durand de la Penne-class destroyers.
 
Phoenix_jz said:
Simultaneously, the expected timeline for spending across the entire €2.7bn program is now projected to stretch to 2036 rather than 2035 (which was the end date in every DPP since 2021), likely reflecting a general year long delay in the program - if they start production on the first ship in 2026 there is no way they will deliver it in 2029 as previously planned. I would expect the lead ship to be delivered in 2030 or 2031, though if the second starts production soon after (rather than with a two year gap) it may still enter service in 2031, or otherwise 2032?
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Could the Sylver NG be first fitted to the DDX ?
https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-suede-signe-la-commande-de-quatre-fregates-a-naval-group
... But there should still be a possibility for future FDIs with the Sylver NG, a new versatile vertical launcher (which can carry several types of missiles) on which Naval Group is already working for production in the 2030s. But this project, which is at the preliminary stage, has not yet been commissioned by the State. Unless things accelerate and the Sylver NG is available from the beginning of the 2030s, which would make it possible to integrate it if Stockholm so wishes on the last units of its series, this evolution could only see the light of day on the occasion of a renovation...
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Titus K said:
Could the Sylver NG be first fitted to the DDX ?
https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-suede-signe-la-commande-de-quatre-fregates-a-naval-group
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Truly, I do not know. It is a thought that has crossed my mine several times this year, ever since reading the article that informed this post.

To quote from that post:

It is interesting to note - and I may be reading too far into this - that RID no longer describes the type of VLS (whether A50 or A70) and instead only refers to '80 cells dedicated to air-missile defense and deep strike' (in totale di 80 celle dedicate all'IAMD e al deep strike). The deck-mounted missile armament remains at eight Teseo Mk.2/E.
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My assumptions are fairly conservative, and I assume is the split of 48x A50 and 32x A70 that had been previously reported is still what is intended.

But the phrasing certainly leaves things open to interpretation, and given the fact that we have heard nothing about Aquila integration into Sylver A70 (only Mk.41), and the fact that Italian effort to buy MdCN (the only munition actually integrated into Sylver A70) seems to have fallen through... it certainly makes one wonder.
 
Phoenix_jz said:
My assumptions are fairly conservative, and I assume is the split of 48x A50 and 32x A70 that had been previously reported is still what is intended.

But the phrasing certainly leaves things open to interpretation, and given the fact that we have heard nothing about Aquila integration into Sylver A70 (only Mk.41), and the fact that Italian effort to buy MdCN (the only munition actually integrated into Sylver A70) seems to have fallen through... it certainly makes one wonder.
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It does.

I'd be leaning more towards a split install, ~48x A50s and 32x Mk41. Aquila and Tomahawks in the Mk41, everything else in A50s. Because even Aster 30 B1NT fits into an A50.
 
There will be a Sylver variant for HYDIS/Aquila, France won't buy Mk41.
If HYDEF wins then it's another story
 
EmoBirb said:
Certainly unpleasant looking, but seeing several medium to small caliber gun armaments across the entire ship to combat unmanned threats is nice.
View attachment 818164
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Definitely not a looker, but it may surprise us by being really pretty in the steel.

Italy is at least giving us something to be excited about. Cant wait to see a DD render.
 
It's remarkable how ugly these concepts have gotten, though I can't say that Italian combatants have ever had nice, clean lines.
 
EmoBirb said:
This is bordering blasphemy
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Nope. Ironically, more often than not Italian ships were kinda fugly, if you go design by design.
It's general reputation ("Italians can make shit but they can't make ugly") and some bright exceptions that form the picture; but it's mostly the opposite. Their ships are usually very good, but good looking ... oh boy, it depends.
 
my personal opinion, the aesthetics of Italian warship designs were peak in the 2000s and 2010s.
Cavour, Italian FREMM, Orrizante, Comandanti, etc.

I don't dislike the current designs like the Thaon Di Revel or this new DDX, (I think Trieste looks kinda off with its two tall islands), but its not as nice as the previous decade
 

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