Written by D-Mitch
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Comandanti class patrol vessel.
Photo: Marina Militare Italiana |
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Sirio class patrol vessel.
Photo: Marina Militare Italiana |
The most modern offshore patrol vessels in service with Italian Navy (Marina Militare) are the ships of the Comandanti and Sirio classes, two classes of the same design that share some common equipment. The four patrol vessels of the Comandanti class were built by Fincantieri and they were delivered to the Italian Navy the period 2002-2004. The program is also known as Nuove Unità Minori Combattenti (NUMC). The last vessel, the
Foscari, was built with composite superstructure made off glass reinforced plastic instead of steel having in that way less mass and therefore
resulting in reduced fuel consumption and improved life cycle of the ship. The two vessels of the Sirio class, also known as Nuove Unità di Pattugliamento d'Altura (NUPA), were commissioned in 2005. The NUPA program gives less emphasis on stealth characteristics, performance and equipment for operations in
low intensity conflict environment such as NUMC program as the main mission of the Sirio class patrol vessels is to safeguard
national interests in the fields of anti-pollution and
rescue services. Therefore, among others, Sirio boats lack the main naval gun and the fire control system, they have less powerful engines and they have no hangar but only a flight deck. However the ships have all the provisions to be equipped as their older sisters. Both classes can various missions such as patrolling and surveillance at sea, control of maritime traffic and inspections, humanitarian relief operations, search and rescue operations, control of the maritime borders, protection of merchant shipping and fisheries, support operations and many more.
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| Modified photo of Comandanti class offshore patrol vessel. In high resolution click here. |
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| Modified photo of Comandanti class offshore patrol vessel. In high resolution click here. |
The general characteristics of the class is a displacement of 1,520tons,
length of 88.6m, beam of about 10m, maximum speed of 25knots and range
of 3,500n.m. with the speed of 14knots. The ship has a crew of 60 persons while there is space for more. Each vessel has a flight deck and a retractable hangar that can
accommodate an AB212 or a NH90 ASW helicopter. The vessels carry two large Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB).
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| Modified photo of Sirio class offshore patrol vessel. In high resolution click here |
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| Super Rapido/Strales. Photo: Marina Mlitare Italiana |
The ships of the Comandanti class have one main gun on the bow deck which is the
OTO Melara Super Rapido 76mm/62cal gun. There is provision for future installation on the Sirio class ships. Initially the 76mm guns were housed in non-stealth cupolas but later they were integrated in the STRALES system which consists of the
naval gun, a Radio Frequency Guidance System with the electronic control
unit and the DART ammunition. STRALES is an all-weather system that was
designed to engage and to destroy multiple manoeuvring targets with the
use of guidance ammunition for increased accuracy and therefore
lethality. STRALES includes a Radio Frequency Guidance System provided
with a
mechanical frame to be connected to the gun-mount structure. A gun
shield is provided with a watertight cover which can be
automatically removed to deploy the guidance antenna; once actual target
position and stabilisation data are available, STRALES operates as a
stand alone system. The DART projectile is equipped with the new DART
microwave programmable multifunction fuse. The effective operating
range is greater than 8km while the maneuverability is higher than..
40g! A new Multiple-Feeding (MF) ammunition loading system for the 76/62
mm is also available as a separate kit which is
able to select any ammunition contained in the branches regardless of
its position (typically, DART and standard ammo). The gun can intercept
air and surface
targets at a distance of
4 km (at 85 degrees) and 16 km (effective range 8 km, 6km the effective range against
anti-ship missiles) unleashing 120 rounds per minute weighting greater
than 6kg each. The gun has excellent performance in any kind of role,
such as air defence, anti surface, anti-missile and shore bombardment
role. It is claimed by OTO Melara that these guns can engage 4 missiles
before they reach the ship.
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| The retractable hangar of Cigala Fulgosi |
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| Italian SH90 (NH90) |
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Borsini of Comandanti class
with the old gun cupola |
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| Bettica of Comandanti class |
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| Foscari with new turret |
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| OTO Melara 25mm gun system |
The ships of both classes have also two
OTO Melara Oerlikon KBA 25mm/80cal
guns which are installed one to port and one to starboard. The
guns are stabilized, electric servo-drive assisted, while a weapon
control is featured in order to allow the gunner to remain steady at any
barrel elevation, laying the gun with the maximum accuracy even against
targets at maximum elevation. A conventional aiming system is fitted to
the mount, but also an IR sight with integrated ballistic reticule is
available. The rate of fire is about 650 rounds per minute and the
effective range for aerial targets is about 2,000m. The gun has two
126-round boxes on each side of it. Perhaps the ships of the Comandanti class could also be equipped with SSM launchers as there is a good space amidships for such installation.
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| 76mm naval gun on the bow deck of a Comandanti class patrol vessel. Photo: Marina Mlitare |
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Selex RAN30 surveillance radar.
Photo: Selex |
The ships are equipped with an X-band multi-mode surveillance radar
Selex RAN-30X
(SPS-791). RAN-30 X/I features up to four operational roles: Surface
and Air Surveillance mode (detection and tracking of small air/surface
targets; max. range 102km); Navigation and Helicopter control (high
antenna rotation speed for navigation close to the coastline; max. range
41km); Over-the-Horizon (OTH) detection (low antenna rotation speed and
long range detection capability; max. range 200km); Anti-seaskimmer
missile detection (max. rage 25km). This mode has an high antenna
rotation rate to ensure the detection and tracking of very small targets
manoeuvring in clutter environment and featuring very low Radar Cross
Section (R.C.S.). It is an automatic detection/tracker radar that can
carry up to 255 system tracks (air and surface targets).
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| Hatch has opened to retrieve/release an RHIB |
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| Selex RTN25X FCS. Photo: Selex |
Part of the electronic equipment of the Comandanti class (there is provision for future installation on the Sirio class vessels) is a
Selex NA-25X
Radar and Optronic Fire Control Systems (FCS). NA-25X which is a modern fire
control system based on the ORION RTN-25X tracking naval radar, a J-band
fully coherent equipment which is characterised by anti-nodding,
extensive ECCM and anti-clutter features together with high tracking
accuracy. A set of two EO sensors (TV camera, IR camera) can be mounted
on the radar director, to enable firing assessment and to provide an
alternative line-of-sight on the same target. A third sensor (Laser
Range Finder) can be mounted to provide a complete EO tracker facility.
NA-25X can be provided with a dedicated multifunctional console or
controlled by any console of the Combat Management System (CMS). The FCS
can be easily integrated in every CMS and completely remote accessible.
A couple of Targets Designation Sight (TDS) enhance the FCS
configuration. Through an internal additional function, NA-25X system
can be integrated inside an Artillery System (including at least two
FCSs), to optimize the use of all onboard guns against multiple
concurrent targets (missiles, air and surface targets). The system
perfomrs the following tasks: radar and optronic autonomous search with
automatic/manual self-designation, surveillance and self designation on
ship's search radar video, automatic engagement of evaluated priority
target up to firing action, automatic air/missile/shore and surface
targets tracking, automatic detection of launched missile, control of up
to three guns with different calibres in the anti-air/anti-surface
warfare and CIWS roles, line-of-sight/line-of-fire stabilization and
Track While Scan (TWS) on external naval data.
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| Orione |
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| Orione |
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| Sirio |
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| Sirio during tests |
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| Janus EO sensor. Photo: Selex |
Each vessel of both classes has been equipped recently with a Selex
Janus-N a stabilised high performance multi sensor that delivers medium to long range panoramic sight under any kind of environmental conditions (weather, day/night, rough sea etc.). The sensor is capable of tracking any kind of targets. he electronic equipment completes a GEM SPN-753G (V) 10 ARPA navigation radars that performs auto-tracking of up to 50 targets, a SATCOM UHF system and other communication antennas (satellite communications, INMARSAT).
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| Comandante Foscari (P-493) in 2010, notice the absence of the EO sensor. Photo: Jimmy C. Pan, US Navy |
Until today the ships of the two classes have not been equipped with an ESM/EW system or chaff launchers. Elmer provides the communications system.
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| Sirio, lead ship of the Sirio class |
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| Foscari, last ship of the Comandanti class |
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