Italian Navy begin PPX sea trials, lays keel of second U212 NFS
The first of four Italian Navy PPX multi-mission patrol vessels, Ugolino Vivaldi (P440), which started sea trials in the Gulf of La Spezia. Photo released on the 1 October 2026. (Italian Navy)
The first of four multi-mission patrol vessels (Pattugliatori Multi-missione di nuova generazione: PPX), Ugolino Vivaldi , started sea trials, while the keel was laid for the second of four Type U212 Near Future Submarines (NFS), Pietro Calvi , said two separate Italian Navy press releases published on 1 October 2026.
The patrol vessel navigated the waters of the Gulf of La Spezia, where it undertook verification and testing ahead of its scheduled entry into the fleet in 2027. Ugolino Vivaldi has a total displacement of about 2,500 tonnes, a length of 95 m, a top speed of 24 kt, and can accommodate 93 personnel.
The Navy intends to replace the four units in its first series of the Constellations-class with PPXs. ITS Cassiopeia , the first in the early Constellations-class, entered service in 1989.
Staff from the New Naval Construction Preparation Centre (MARINALLES) led the activities at sea. The activities tested the ship's CODLAD (COmbined Diesel eLectric And Diesel) propulsion system and the main onboard systems, verifying their navigation behaviour, manoeuvrability, and performance ahead of subsequent trials.
Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), prime contractor and joint venture comprising Italian companies Fincantieri and Leonardo, signed the PPX contract on 31 July 2023. The vessel was laid down at Fincantieri's Riva Trigoso shipyard on 12 December 2024, and launched the ship on 21 February 2026.
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