The Italian Navy operates four Comandanti-class patrol vessels, built by Fincantieri
with the last, the Commandante Foscari, being commissioned in 2004
They serve as coastal patrol and traffic control, cargo and surveillance in immigration control
The Comandanti-class is built to meet the requirements of long- and medium-range patrol and the vessel carries fuel and stores for an endurance of ten days
The ship operates with a crew of 80 with eight officers
The overall length is 88.40m and the full load displacement is 1,520t
The maximum sustained speed is over 25kt and the ship has a range of 3,500nm
The propulsion system is based on two GM Trieste Wartsila W18-V 26 XIV diesels engines
developing 13.2MW, and three Isotta Fraschini 1712 T2 ME diesel generators, providing 900kW of power each
The engines drive two shafts with constant pitch propellers
The ship design incorporates low radar and infrared signatures
The first three vessels have an all-steel superstructure
but the fourth, Commandante Foscari, is constructed from glass-reinforced plastic, including most of the mast and the helicopter hangar
This composite material is lighter and therefore reduces fuel consumption
The ship has a stern, a mirror, a flight deck with access to hangar
It can easily accommodate AB212 and NH90 helicopters
The unique design of the Cigala’s hull, superstructure and the tree has reduced the thermal and electromagnetic signatures
The design also aims to reduce the craft’s radar signature
This allows the ship to carry out a variety of tasks ranging from patrolling traffic control surveillance to checking sea waters for illegal immigration
The Selex Sistemi Integrati NUMC combat system comprises the sensors, combat management system and weapons
All operations can be wholly managed by the CMS, including fire control
internal and external communications, message handling and blind pilotage
The ship’s electronic warfare systems include chaff decoy launchers and an SLQ-747 radar interceptor and jammer supplied by Elettronica
The ship’s main gun is an Oto Melara 76mm gun installed on the forward gun deck
The gun is controlled by a Selex NA-25 radar and optronic fire control system which is based on the RTN-25X X-band radar
The naval ships also have two Oto Melara 25mm guns