This is how Fincantieri is targeting Saudi Arabia
At the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Fincantieri presented the FCx30 modular ship concept, targeted for Saudi Arabia. All the details
Fincantieri looks to Saudi Arabia.
The Italian shipbuilder has committed to building the FCx30 multi-role vessels in 32 months, an aggressive production period which, according to the Trieste company, is made possible by the introduction of a modular production approach involving the use of a twin digital and the separation of ship and mast construction, Breaking Defense reports.
Based on the design of Qatar's Doha/Al Zubarah-class ships, the FCx30 ships will be offered to customers, including Saudi Arabia – considered a top sales priority – in three configurations: light, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and full , according to a presentation by Fincantieri at the World Defense Show just concluded in Riyadh, reported by the American newspaper.
The naval giant from Trieste is not the only national giant aiming to grow in the Kingdom.
Also on the occasion of the World Defense Show, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), the General Authority for the Military Industry (GAMI) and Leonardo announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which has aim to discuss, develop and evaluate a series of investments and collaboration opportunities in the aerospace and defense sectors.
On the other hand, after Italy formally lifted the embargo on arms transfers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, experts immediately argued that Riyadh could be on the market for some Italian defense platforms.
All the details.
FINCANTIERI OPTIMIZES PRODUCTION WITH MODULARITY
Fincantieri number one Pierroberto Folgiero told Breaking Defens that the modular approach reduces production times compared to a general ship market trend of 40 months.
According to Folgero, with the modularity concept, led by the FCx digital twin, a computerized version of the ship's design would be "fed with real data" from the physical ship, once built, so that engineers can optimize hardware and software, use artificial intelligence, or potentially “rethink the specs.”
FOLGIERO AIMS AT RIAD
Not only that, Folgiero “strongly believes” that Saudi Arabia represents a key “addressable market” to secure a future sale of FCx30, Breaking Defense points out.
“It's not a gamble,” he said of this potential deal, noting that the company's Riyadh office is ready to support a tender phase, should Saudi Arabia decide to launch it.
The Fincantieri CEO added that it will be up to Saudi defense officials to talk about specific interest in a frigate acquisition program, but that Riyadh was open about “increasing naval capability” in general, along with Vision 2030 which aims to locate 50% of defense spending in the Kingdom.
WORKING FOR A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOFON
Meanwhile, Breaking Defense reveals that Fincantieri is working on a deal with Sofon Industries, a new government-owned company created to become the “champion of the Navy and maritime industry in Saudi Arabia” according to the governor of the General Authority for Saudi Arabia's military industries, Ahmed al Ohali. The agreements with Sofon are essential for international shipbuilders to benefit from new naval contracts, specifies the American newspaper.
“[Sofon] will be the champion of the navy and maritime industry in Saudi Arabia. They have a huge shipbuilding facility on the east coast,” Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), told Breaking Defense . “We are working closely with them, guiding them… [supporting their work with] international companies. Renowned international companies in the naval sector.”
On the other hand, as Intelligence Online recently reported, “a former Fincantieri manager already works for Sofon. Diego Balzano is a former company manager and technical consultant of Sofon since February 2023." Balzano, who has considerable experience in Fincantieri's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program in the United States, has helped consolidate the Italian naval group's presence in Saudi Arabia.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/ecco-come-fincantieri-punta-allarabia-saudita/ on Fri, 09 Feb 2024 07:19:53 +0000.