On September, the Italian Government requested the approval of the program relating to the acquisition of new amphibious units, including ammunition, ten-year technical-logistical support and the necessary infrastructural adjustments.
The program concerns the renewal of the naval units of the SAN GIORGIO Class, in service since the late 80s / early 90s, through the acquisition of as many units of modern conception. Inthe first phase of the programme, the available financial resources of which allow the renewal of two new platforms.
Hence the need to provide the Navy with a new Class of ships, equipped with a floodable basin for the landing of the Landing Force (LF), its combat power and the logistical support assets of the Ship-to-Shore Movement (surface projection), combinable with the Heli-assault one. Specifically, the Defense points out that the entry into service of 3 new amphibious units is essential to guarantee the military instrument the capabilities necessary for the performance of specific tasks assigned to the Defense, such as, for example, the control of the maritime areas of competence, the defense of the Euro-Atlantic spaces, support to the regional activities of NATO and the EU and support to the activities of the Department of Civil Protection.
With regard to the characteristics of the new Units, the technical sheet first of all points out that their dimensions are greater than those of the SAN GIORGIO ship, although they will be designed so as to be able to operate mainly from the same naval base within the port area of Brindisi, as well as from the nearby base of Taranto. The new platforms will, in fact, be equipped with a flight deck and will also have to be characterized by strong qualities of robustness, simplicity of construction and flexibility, transport capacity and technical-logistical self-sustainability, as well as agility of use to carry out the entire spectrum of missions, from combat to non-kinetic ones, including humanitarian assistance and support interventions for civil protection in case of natural disasters.
They must therefore be suitable to provide technical-logistical and medical-health support services, transport of special vehicles, generation of energy and water, evacuation and shelter of civilians by sea or through the helicopters embarked.
The programme is designed according to a multiannual development plan planned to start in 2023 and with a total duration of fourteen years (2023-2036). The total forecast cost of the program is € 2,041 million. The expenditure relating to the first phase, the subject of the draft decree in question, is equal to € 1,226 million, financed from the appropriations of the Ordinary Budget of the Ministry of Defense within the resources available under current legislation.
In this regard, the Defense points out that the first phase of the program covered by the scheme in question will guarantee the acquisition of the first 2 naval units, including part of the related logistical support, ammunition and related infrastructure adaptation. The completion of the program, for the remaining total forecast value of € 815 million, will be achieved through subsequent measures aimed at the acquisition of the third Unit.
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