The Italian Navy is preparing for a future with swarms of drones, both airborne, surface, and undersea, and has tasked shipyard Fincantieri to build vessels ready for this task. Capt. Gianluca Marcilli leads the Technology Innovation Office at the Navy General Staff’s General Space and Innovation Office, announcing a new research project called “Swarm Drone Carrier” focusing on hosting drones for various missions.
Fincantieri has been challenged to redesign vessels to accommodate launch and recovery systems for drones, with plans to host undersea, surface, and airborne drones. The study proposes hosting up to six to ten undersea drones, four to six Unmanned Surface Vehicle drones, and four to six airborne drones. The Navy is also considering hosting fixed-wing, loitering munitions on vessels.
Officials are facing challenges with integrating purchased drones with the vessels’ Combat Management Systems. The study has resulted in the design of a ‘proof of concept’ Landing Platform Dock as a potential drone carrier. The focus is on adapting existing vessels, including the Trieste Landing Helicopter Dock, PPX patrol vessels, and Fremm EVO vessels, to better integrate drones while enhancing capabilities to counter drone attacks.
