Breaking News: First images of ITS Montecuccoli PPA weapon fit

By Luca Peruzzi

EDR On-Line took the first images of ITS Montecuccoli (P 432) Thaon di Revel-class PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) combatant patrol vessel, since the technical launch ceremony on March 13.

The Montecuccoli PPA images were taken at Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso shipyard where the ship was built and mostly outfitted before being transferred by barge, as illustrated in the picture, to La Spezia Muggiano shipyard in the incoming hours.

Here the Montecuccoli will complete outfitting before beginning harbour and sea acceptance trials, delivery being planned in 2023.  The Monteccucoli is the first Thaon di Revel-class platform in the PPA Light Plus configuration equipped with the MBDA SAAM ESD PPA air defence missile system.

The first PPA Light Plus is fitted withthe Leonardo four fixed-face (4FF) C-band AESA KRONOS Quad radar of the Dual Band Radar (DBR) (X/C band) suite to be installed on the PPA Full platform.

An evolution of the SAAM ESD system initially installed on the FREMM Bergamini-class frigates, the SAAM ESD PPA installed on the Montecuccoli PPA Light Plus is centered on two 8-cell A50 Naval Group VLS for the family of MBDA’s Aster surface-to-air missiles and C2 working for the first time with the Leonardo 4FF AESA C-band radar exploiting the GaN technology and the advanced radar system manager providing enhanced air defence capabilities against present and future threats including ballistic missiles.

The radar system is also working together, exploiting integrated functions, with Elettronica EW suite including RESM/CESM and RECM.

The PPA vessels are also armed with the Leonardo 127 mm LW Vulcano guided ammunition capable main gun and the Single Deck 76/62 mm gun system with Strales guidance and guided ammunition kit.

All those are managed by the Leonardo NA-30S Mk2 radar-EO/IR fire control system in addition to two 25 mm remotely controlled mounts. More to come soon on this topic. 

Photos by Luca Peruzzi