Orizzonte Sistemi Navali delivers first ‘ASW Enhanced' FREMM frigate to Italian Navy

Orizzonte Sistemi Navali delivered Spartaco Schergat (F 598) to the Italian Navy on 15 April 2025. (Fincantieri)

The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its ninth Bergamini-class FREMM multimission frigate, Spartaco Schergat (F 598), from Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), the joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo.

Spartaco Schergat was formally handed over during a ceremony held at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard in La Spezia on 15 April, the shipbuilder confirmed the same day.

Laid down in February 2021 and launched in November 2023 , Spartaco Schergat is the first of two Bergamini-class FREMM frigates in the series to be delivered to the Italian Navy in a new hybrid general-purpose (GP)/anti-submarine warfare (ASW) configuration, otherwise known as the ‘ASW Enhanced' variant.

The two ships – Spartaco Schergat and tenth-in-class Emilio Bianchi (F 589) – were procured as replacements for the two FREMM GP-configured frigates that were sold to Egypt.

The mixed GP/ASW variant features equipment common to both the GP/anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and ASW versions already in service with the Italian Navy.

On the two replacement ships, the Thales CAPTAS-4//UMS 4249 low-frequency active/passive variable depth sonar equipment of the ASW suite has been installed aft in place of the second (11 m) assault rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) of the GP variant. Both also feature an upgraded ELT electronic warfare suite, communications systems, and active cyber protection for the combat management system (CMS).

Launched in 2005, the Italian Navy's multi-year FREMM programme now has 12 vessels on order. Of the first 10, eight are operational – four delivered in the GP/ASuW configuration and four configured for ASW.

Emilio Bianchi