This project, to be presented at the “Sea Drone Tech Summit 2024” in Rome, aims to enhance Italy’s naval capabilities. Developed in collaboration with Fincantieri, it will include advanced systems for managing unmanned vehicles
Italy’s drone carrier vision. The Italian Navy is moving forward with plans for a new drone carrier, the Sciamano Drone Carrier, designed to launch and recover both fixed-wing and rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- These drones will support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, enhancing the Navy’s operational flexibility.
- The Sciamano project will be presented at the Sea Drone Tech Summit 2024, an event focused on maritime robotics, which takes place from October 29-30 at the Italian Swimming Federation’s Aquatic Centre in Ostia, Rome.
Global trend in drone carriers. The Italian Navy is not alone in pursuing this innovation.
- Several countries, including Spain, Turkey, the United States, and China, are developing drone carrier projects.
- As Luciano Castro, president of the Sea Drone Tech Summit, remarked, “In today’s complex geopolitical environment, these vessels—equipped with aerial, naval, and underwater drones—allow for a wide range of ISR missions and disrupt enemy defences with drone swarms.”
- Italy’s push for the Sciamano Drone Carrier places it within this growing international trend towards unmanned naval capabilities.
Fincantieri leads development. Funded by Italy’s National Military Research Plan, the Sciamano Drone Carrier project is being developed by Fincantieri, the country’s premier shipbuilder.
- The project focuses on defining a “concept design” that integrates an advanced command, control, and communication system to manage large numbers of unmanned vehicles.
- The ability to efficiently launch and recover drones is a core requirement, reflecting the need for flexible, technologically advanced naval platforms in modern warfare.
Strengthening Italy’s naval edge. The Sciamano Drone Carrier is expected to significantly boost Italy’s naval capabilities, particularly in conducting long-range ISR missions and in operations aimed at disrupting adversarial defences.
- With its emphasis on swarm management, the Italian Navy is positioning itself as a leader in maritime drone technology.
- This initiative underscores the rising importance of unmanned systems in naval warfare, where adaptability and innovation are essential to meet evolving threats.
