Naviris & eurosam have achieved a significant milestone for the Horizon Mid-Life Upgrade Programme, a pivotal initiative for the Italian and the French Navies, with the completion of the first “Critical Design Review” (CDR). This milestone officially marks the transition from the design phase to the production phase of the Programme.
Originally delivered between 2009 and 2011, the Horizon-class ships – “Andrea Doria”, “Caio Duilio”, “Forbin”, and “Chevalier Paul” - are set to undergo their midlife upgrade between 2026 and 2030. This upgrade aims to ensure that these vessels will remain equipped with state-of-the-art technology and enhanced capabilities, extending their operational lifespan while preserving and expanding their superior performance.
Awarded in July 2023 by OCCAr (Organisation for joint armament cooperation), acting on behalf of the French and Italian nations, the Horizon Mid-Life Upgrade (HRZ MLU) contract is led by Naviris and eurosam and supported by Fincantieri, Naval Group, and preeminent key partners such as Leonardo, Thales, SiGen, and MBDA.
The HRZ MLU Programme addresses key national requirements focusing on the development, production and integration onboard of the Aster missile based PAAMS Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) system and Electronic Warfare Systems (EWS) domains’ systems providing enhanced, new capabilities and performances against the most modern threats, while resolving obsolescence and updating systems to ensure continued reliability and effectiveness.
Following the completion of the System Design Review (SDR) in 2024, and the CDR in April 2025, the integration of new systems is scheduled as follows:
- Italian Navy: Integration on the First of Class ship will begin mid-2026, followed by Follow-on Ship at the end of 2027
- French Navy: Integration on the First of Class will begin mid-2028, followed by Follow-on Ship at the end of 2029
All upgrade activities are programmed to be concluded by 2030, hardening the Horizon-class vessels’ position as cutting-edge assets for national defence.
The eurosam GIE (Economic Interest Grouping) is a Franco-Italian joint-venture created between MBDA and Thales. For more than 35 years, it has been the industrial prime contractor and design authority for Aster missile-based air defence systems.
The result of cooperation between France and Italy, extended to the United Kingdom, the systems developed by eurosam both in their land (SAMP/T) and naval (SAAM and PAAMS) applications have proven their effectiveness in combat
Today, eurosam is positioned as the only European system manufacturer capable of offering sovereign medium and long-range air defence solutions. To meet current defence challenges, eurosam continues to innovate to offer its customers defence systems able to defeat current and future threats. This ability to anticipate and to innovate is based on the recognised expertise of its teams and that of its shareholders in terms of research and development and programme management.
Naviris is a 50/50 owned joint venture by Fincantieri and Naval Group, officially launched in January 2020. With this alliance bringing new opportunities to the surface ship market, Fincantieri and Naval Group have cemented their joint desire to build a future of excellence for the shipbuilding industry and navies. The two European leaders with complementary offers, supported by a large ecosystem, came together to better serve the world’s navies and mutually increase their competitive edge. They are materialising their shared worldwide ambition: the alliance is based on a mutual understanding of the challenges and realities of naval defence in the world of today. Naviris is dedicated to opening the doors to the international markets of tomorrow.
