Industry · Shipbuilding
Fincantieri-Leonardo venture targets 18-month FREMM build time cut, Breaking Defense reports
Executives aim to shorten the FREMM delivery window from 54 to 36 months, Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero said, according to Breaking Defense.
At Euronaval in Paris on Tuesday, Fincantieri and Leonardo signed a letter of intent to restructure their naval joint venture, Breaking Defense reported.1 The agreement sets out guiding principles for their future collaboration.2
Breaking Defense reports Leonardo and Fincantieri announced a restructuring of OSN
Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN)
will return to its former model, in which OSN serves as an overarching integrator of an entire warship
Folgiero said executives set a goal of cutting the delivery window for FREMM frigates from 54 to 36 months
Reported by Breaking Defense, Nov. 4, 2026; Leonardo, Nov. 3, 2026
The change would put Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), their joint venture, back in charge of integrating an entire warship, Breaking Defense reported. Fincantieri and Leonardo currently tend to manage separate aspects of the same ship.1
Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero said executives aim to cut the FREMM delivery window from 54 to 36 months.1
The agreement aims to strengthen OSN's industrial and commercial role and its position in integrating naval platforms and combat systems, according to Leonardo's release. OSN's programs include FREMM EVO frigates currently under construction.2
OSN also signed a €3.7 billion contract with OCCAR in September, Breaking Defense reported. It covers development, production and initial in-service support of two DDX destroyers for the Italian Navy.1
Executives expect the renewed venture to compete more effectively in European and export markets, Breaking Defense reported. The outlet described the FREMM delivery goal as a test of whether the companies can achieve a timeline similar to the Korean shipbuilding industry.1
Sources (2)
- Breaking Defense: Leonardo, Fincanteri revamp joint venture, aiming to trim frigate build time by 18 months (Nov. 4, 2026) breakingdefense.com
- Leonardo: Fincantieri and Leonardo sign an agreement to further strengthen the role of OSN (Nov. 3, 2026) leonardo.com