Italy is set to initiate the procurement process for two next-generation destroyers for the Italian Navy on February 18, with the program estimated to be worth €2.7 billion (approximately $3.17 billion).
The vessels will be built by Italian shipbuilder Orizzonte Sistemi Navali and are intended to replace the two Durand de la Penne-class destroyers that entered service in the early 1990s. Designated the DDX class, the new ships represent an advanced evolution of the Italian Navy’s FREMM Evolution frigates currently under construction, themselves derived from the in-service FREMM multipurpose frigate design.
The DDX program traces its origins to 2020, when a preliminary study was launched to define the design and acquisition pathway. Initial plans envisioned two years of risk-reduction activities, followed by a production contract award in 2023 and vessel commissioning roughly five years later. However, challenges in finalizing operational requirements resulted in a three-year delay to the production contract.
The destroyers are expected to measure approximately 175 meters in length, with a beam of 24 meters and a draught of 9 meters, and will accommodate a crew exceeding 300 personnel. The ships are projected to reach speeds of more than 30 knots and will be powered by a CODOGAL (Combined Diesel or Gas and Electric) propulsion system.
In terms of armament, the DDX vessels are expected to feature six eight-cell vertical launch system modules capable of firing Aster family surface-to-air missiles. The ships are also anticipated to incorporate a land-attack capability, potentially through a navalized SCALP cruise missile or the Teseo Mk2/Evolved anti-ship missile, which is assessed to provide limited land-strike functionality in littoral environments.
Aft aviation facilities will include a flight deck and hangar designed to support the operation of two EH101 helicopters or two SH90 helicopters, enhancing the ships’ multi-role and maritime operations capability.
