DDX-class destroyer

Class overview
Name	Guided missile destroyer
Builders	OSN [it]; Fincantieri ; Leonardo S.p.A;
Operators	Italian Navy (future)
Preceded by	Durand de la Penne class ; Orizzonte-class guided missile destroyer;
Cost	€3.7 billion for 2 ships (as of September 2026), €1.3 billion of which in options (development, production, logistic, service support)
Built	2027 - 2035 (estimate)
In service	from 2033
Planned	2
General characteristics
Type	Guided missile destroyer (air and missile defence / multi-mission destroyer)
Displacement	13,500 tonnes
Length	180 m (590 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	CODOGAL
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km)
Complement	251
Sensors &; processing systems	Systems; Fincantieri SADOC 5 C5I; Fincantieri Navis Sapiens (system of systems); Sonars: ; Towed sonar variable depth: N/A; Bow sonar: N/A; Mine and obstacle avoidance: N/A; Radars:; 4 × AESA, S-band, fixed plates radar; Other radars: N/A; Electro-optical sensors:; N/A; Communications:; N/A; Navigation:; N/A;
Electronic warfare; & decoys	N/A
Armament	Torpedoes:; WASS B-515/3 launchers with MU90; VLS:; 6 × 8-cell Sylver A-50; 4 × 8-cell Sylver A-70; Missiles:; Air defence:; Aster 15 (Sylver A-50); Aster 30 B1NT (Sylver A-50); Anti-ship / land-attack missiles:; Teseo Mk2/E (dedicated launchers with 4 missiles each, anti-ship); MdCN (Sylver A-70, land attack); Stratus LO (Sylver A-70); Stratus RS (Sylver A-70); Guns:; 3 × 76mm Sovraponte naval gun with DART Munition (2 × at the bow, 1 × on top of the hangar); 4 × Leonardo Lionfish RWS (Leonardo X-Gun 30);
Aircraft carried	Up to 2 × EH-101A / SH-101A / MH-101A helicopter; Up to 2 × SH-90A / MH90A helicopter; UAV;
Aviation facilities	Rear helicopter deck; Hangar for up to 2 naval helicopters;
Notes	Unmanned surface vehicles; Unmanned underwater vehicle;

The DDX class is an Italian class of guided-missile destroyers, designed to replace the Durand de la Penne class.

The class is being built under the supervision of OCCAR, on behalf of Italy. A contract was signed the 24 September 2026 with OSN (Orizzonte Sistemi Navali S.p.A.) [it], a joint-venture of Fincantieri and Leonardo.

Development

The DPP 2020 of the Italian Ministry of Defence identified the need for a new class of destroyers to replace the Durand de la Penne class. A de-risking study was launched in 2020 for the DDX programme.

The construction was planned to start in 2023, after the final definition of the requirements would be set in 2022. The complexity of the programme and the geopolitical situation brought delays to the programme, and modifications were made to include a more powerful radar suite, and a larger number of VLS (48-cell planned in 2020, 80-cell in 2026).

The contract was signed in September 2026 instead of 2023, and the delivery expected in 2028 has been shifted to 2033.

Ships

No.	Name	Builder	Status	Contract	Steel cutting	Laid down	Launched	Comm.
Italian Navy - 2 planned
TBA	TBA	Fincantieri, Italy	Under contract, in development	24 Sep 2026	-	-	-	2033
TBA	TBA	Fincantieri, Italy	Under contract, in development	24 Sep 2026	-	-	-	2035

Planned dates

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Italy Signs €3.7B Contract for New DDX Destroyers". Navalnews.com. 24 September 2026. Archived from the original on 24 September 2026. Retrieved 2 October 2026.
↑ "MBDA successfully completes validation firing of the new anti-ship TESEO MK2/E missile system for the Italian Navy". MBDA-systems.com. 16 September 2026. Archived from the original on 24 September 2026. Retrieved 2 October 2026.
1 2 "OCCAR - OCCAR Signs Contract for DDX Next-Generation Destroyer Programme". occar.int. Archived from the original on 2 October 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
1 2 "Fincantieri | Orizzonte Sistemi Navali signs €3.7 Billion contract for two "DDX" Destroyers for the Italian Navy". www.fincantieri.com. 24 September 2026. Archived from the original on 25 September 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
↑ ESD (2021-01-09). "Italy's Defence Multi-Year Planning Document 2020-2022 - European Security & Defence". Retrieved 2026-10-02.
1 2 "Italy -- DDX Destroyer -- Program". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
↑ Kington, Tom (2020-11-09). "Italy plans new destroyers for 2028 delivery". Defense News. Retrieved 2026-10-02.

External links

(in Italian) Italian Navy ships (marina.difesa.it)
(in Italian) Italian Navy submarines (marina.difesa.it)
(in Italian) Italian Navy aircraft (marina.difesa.it)
(in Italian) Italian Navy new projects (marina.difesa.it)

[Naval_News_contract-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Italy Signs €3.7B Contract for New DDX Destroyers". Navalnews.com. 24 September 2026. Archived from the original on 24 September 2026. Retrieved 2 October 2026.

[MBDA_Teseo_Mk2/E-2] "MBDA successfully completes validation firing of the new anti-ship TESEO MK2/E missile system for the Italian Navy". MBDA-systems.com. 16 September 2026. Archived from the original on 24 September 2026. Retrieved 2 October 2026.

[OCCAR_contract_September_2026_OSN-3] 1 2 "OCCAR - OCCAR Signs Contract for DDX Next-Generation Destroyer Programme". occar.int. Archived from the original on 2 October 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-02.

[Fincantieri_contract_September_2026-4] 1 2 "Fincantieri | Orizzonte Sistemi Navali signs €3.7 Billion contract for two "DDX" Destroyers for the Italian Navy". www.fincantieri.com. 24 September 2026. Archived from the original on 25 September 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-02.

[5] ESD (2021-01-09). "Italy's Defence Multi-Year Planning Document 2020-2022 - European Security & Defence". Retrieved 2026-10-02.

[:1-6] 1 2 "Italy -- DDX Destroyer -- Program". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2026-10-02.

[7] Kington, Tom (2020-11-09). "Italy plans new destroyers for 2028 delivery". Defense News. Retrieved 2026-10-02.

v t e Ship classes of the Italian Navy
Aircraft carriers	Cavour^S Giuseppe Garibaldi^S
Amphibious ships	Trieste^S San Giorgio class LCM62 class MTM217 class MTP96 class
Destroyers	Nicoloso da Recco (Navigatori class)^C Grecale (Maestrale class)^C Granatiere (Soldati class)^C Artigliere class (Benson/Gleaves class)^X Fante class (Fletcher class)^X San Giorgio class Impetuoso class Impavido class Audace class Durand de la Penne class Orizzonte class
Frigates	Aldebaran class (Cannon class)^X Centauro class Bergamini class Alpino class Lupo class Maestrale class Soldati class Bergamini class
Corvettes	Antilope class Gabbiano class^C Alabarda^S Albatros class Sentinella^S Pietro De Cristofaro class Minerva class
Patrol boats	Thaon di Revel class (PPA) Cabrini class (UNPAV) Comandanti class Cassiopea class Sirio class Esploratore class
Submarines	Enrico Tazzoli class (Gato class)^X Evangelista Torricelli class (Balao class)^X Gianfranco Gazzana-Priaroggia class (Tench class)^X Livio Piomarta class (Tang class)^X Marconi class Toti class Sauro class Todaro (Type 212)^X SRV-300^S
Minesweepers	Gaeta class Lerici class
Auxiliary ships	Vulcano class Etna class Stromboli class Anteo^S Marino class Elettra^S Alliance^S Leonardo^S Ammiraglio Magnaghi^S Ninfe class Rossetti class Simeto class Bormida^S Panarea class Gorgona class Ponza class GGS 1012 class Atlante class Ciclope class RP 101 class RP 113 class RP 118 class Ercole^S Porto class Cheradi^S Argo^S
Training ships	Amerigo Vespucci Palinuro Italia Orsa Maggiore Caroly Capricia Stella Polare Corsaro II
Floating dry docks	GO 59 GO 58 GO 55 GO 52 GO 22 GO 20 GO 11
Future ships	USSP UIOM DDX
S Single ship of class C Served in World War II X Imported

v t e Warships of Italy
Capital ships	Battleships Ironclad warships Ships of the line
Cruisers	Heavy cruisers Protected cruisers Torpedo cruisers Screw corvettes
Smaller craft	Destroyers Submarines
Miscellaneous	Active ships Decommissioned ships

v t e Italian Navy
Components	Organization Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy Italian Coast Guard COMSUBIN Commander in Chief Naval Fleet
Fleet Command	San Marco Marine Brigade Naval Aviation
Equipment	Ships active inactive Aircraft
Schools	Francesco Morosini Naval School Naval Academy Istituto di Studi Militari Marittimi
History and traditions	Regia Marina Decima Flottiglia MAS Battle of Lissa Operation Mare Nostrum Naval Museum Technical Naval Museum at La Spezia
Related	Italian Navy ranks Corps of Naval Engineering La Spezia Naval Base