JavaScript Required

Jumpseat Aerospace News requires JavaScript to function. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to continue.

Italy Awards €3.7B DDX Destroyer Contract

September 25, 2026

3 min read

Key Takeaways

Italy signs €3.7B contract for new DDX destroyers.
Delivery of first and second units scheduled for 2033 and 2035.
Programme includes development, production, and in-service support.
DDX destroyers to feature advanced digitalisation and combat systems.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Key Takeaways.

Upgrade

Strategic Implications

This contract may signal a significant upgrade in Italy's naval defence capabilities, suggesting a shift towards more advanced and integrated systems. The programme could indicate a growing focus on multi-domain operations and interoperability, which may have implications for the broader European defence industry.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Strategic Implications.

Upgrade

What Happened

Italian Navy Expands Capabilities With Next-Generation Destroyers

The Italian Navy has awarded a €3.7 billion contract for the development and production of two new-generation DDX destroyers, set for delivery in 2033 and 2035. The programme, led by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, a joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo, aims to introduce a technologically advanced platform with enhanced digitalisation, automation, and combat systems. The new destroyers will feature advanced air and missile defence capabilities, as well as high levels of interoperability and information sharing. According to Naval News, the programme represents a significant milestone for Italy’s national defence industry and confirms Fincantieri’s role as an industrial and technological reference point in the design and integration of complex naval systems.

Source | Originally Published: September 24, 2026

Companies Mentioned