Italy has signed a $4.2 billion (€3.7 billion) contract with Orizzonte Sistemi Navali to build two advanced DDX destroyers, marking a major milestone in the Italian Navy’s fleet modernization. Facilitated through the European procurement office OCCAR, the agreement commissions the state-backed joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo to deliver these 13,500-tonne vessels in 2033 and 2035. Designed to replace the navy’s aging Horizon-class ships, the new destroyers will feature cutting-edge digital combat systems, Leonardo AESA radars, and advanced power management networks to significantly expand the nation’s maritime defense capabilities.
The newly ordered platforms will serve as the backbone of the fleet’s ongoing renewal initiative, integrating modern tactical software and sophisticated weapon systems supplied by MBDA. With a length of 180 meters and a range of 4,000 nautical miles, the DDX destroyers represent a generational leap forward in operational flexibility and technological sophistication. This strategic investment underscores Rome’s commitment to maintaining a dominant naval presence and technological edge in the Mediterranean and beyond.
