A new FREMM for the Navy: welcome Spartaco Schergat
On 15 April 2025, the ninth FREMM type frigate, named FREMM 100, was officially delivered to the Italian Navy at the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia). SPARTACUS SCHERGATS. The ship takes its name from the heroic raider of the 10th MAS Flotilla, who distinguished himself in the attack on the British naval base in Alexandria, Egypt on 19 December 1941, an action that resulted in the sinking of the battleships Queen Elizabeth and Valiant. Schergat, decorated with the Gold Medal for Military Valor, is a symbolic figure of the courage, technical preparation and determination of the Italian Navy.
The SPARTACO SCHERGAT represents a further step forward in the FREMM program, which has revolutionized the Italian fleet in the name of modernity, operational versatility and strategic projection. Together with the next EMILIO WHITE, scheduled for July 2025, constitutes the pair of frigates in the configuration ASW Enhanced – that is, enhanced for anti-submarine warfare – intended to replace the homonymous units in GP (General Purpose) configuration, sold to the Egyptian Navy.
The FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigates) program is the result of cooperation between Italy and France, but has evolved independently in the two countries. In Italy, it is managed by Horizon Naval Systems (OSN), a joint venture that unites two giants of the Italian defense industry: Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%). The program today represents a milestone of the national naval industry and an essential component of the Italian maritime strategy.
Elite technology and operational capabilities
On the eve of the official delivery, the SPARTACO SCHERGAT made its first sea voyage with a technical delegation on board led by the CEO of OSN, Giovanni Sorrentino, and the Director of NAVARM, Admiral Giuseppe Abbamonte. During the navigation it was possible to verify the exceptional stability, the Operational silence – a crucial element for anti-submarine warfare – and the high level of ergonomics and livability of interior spaces. These aspects not only improve operational effectiveness, but also the quality of life of the crew on board during long missions.
The FREMMs in configuration ASW Enhanced They retain some features of the previous anti-submarine versions, such as the variable depth sonar Thales CAPTAS-4, consisting of an active ultra-low frequency “fish” and a hydrophonic curtain for capturing radiated noise and reflected signals. Important technological innovations are added to this equipment:
- 127 mm gun at the bow, with assisted fire capability against the coast, ideal for ground support operations.
- New Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite entirely made by ELT Group, derived from the suite ZEUS of the Naval Law Enforcement units. This suite includes advanced systems for the detection and analysis of radar emissions and communications (RESM/CESM) and an electronic countermeasures (ECM) system to jam radars and anti-ship missile seekers.
- A more advanced one interface in COP (Platform Operations Center), which improves the crew's situational awareness and response speed.
The operational versatility of these frigates allows them to be employed in anti-submarine missions, as well as in escort, patrol, operations in support of ground forces and maritime traffic control tasks. In this sense, the FREMM represents a truly “multi-mission” ship, as the acronym itself suggests.
A winning program between past and future
With 315,000 engine hours accumulated by the entire class, the FREMM program has achieved extraordinary operational results. This figure is equivalent to approximately 35 years of continuous navigation, a milestone that only the historic class MAESTRAL had almost reached in its long career. The FREMMs have operated in all the main scenarios of the Mediterranean and beyond, distinguishing themselves for their reliability and adaptability.
The SPARTACO SCHERGAT embodies not only technological progress, but also the link between the history and future of the Navy. Naming a modern ship after a hero of the past is not a symbolic gesture in itself: it is the tangible sign of continuity between generations of Italian sailors, between those who have written history and those who today collect the legacy to project it into tomorrow.
The FREMM program also represents an exportable industrial success. Italy has already delivered four FREMMs to the Egyptian Navy, and new opportunities are being explored for other countries interested in acquiring modern, modular and highly interoperable naval platforms. This strengthens Italy's role in the European defense landscape and in NATO cooperation, in line with shared security strategies.
With the delivery of the EMILIO BIANCHI in July 2025, the FREMM program for the Navy will come to an end. However, the skills, technological solutions and experience accumulated will live on for a long time in future programs, including European ones such as the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) and the new post-FREMM generation frigates.
Published by Condoralex
Born Alessandro Generotti, C.le Maj. Parachutist on leave. Military Parachutist Patent no. 192806. 186th RGT Par. Folgore/5th BTG. Par. El Alamein/XIII Cp. Par. Condor.
Founder and administrator of the website BRIGATAFOLGORE.NET. Blogger and computer scientist by profession.
