Fincantieri, a world leader in high-complexity shipbuilding and already active in the field of underwater drones, has signed a strategic agreement to accelerate the development of Defcomm’s autonomous surface units. Defcomm is an Italian startup specializing in unmanned solutions for the maritime sector. This confirms the Group’s commitment to driving technological innovation by collaborating with emerging and excellent entities, investing in new critical skills to consolidate its industrial leadership, particularly in the field of high-tech dual-use unmanned solutions.
Specifically, the agreement focuses on a co-investment partnership to accelerate the development and industrialization of surface drones designed by Defcomm, which have already passed long run and endurance tests. These drones are designed for surveillance, intelligence, and patrol missions and stand out for their high operational flexibility, being able to operate in fully autonomous mode, remote control, and manual control, as well as for their high performance in terms of speed.
The partnership will also enable Fincantieri to develop and integrate deployment capabilities for autonomous surface vehicles on its naval units, serving both domestic and international customers. Furthermore, the collaboration between Fincantieri and Defcomm will also support upcoming training activities during which the advanced capabilities of the platforms and their interoperability in complex scenarios will be demonstrated.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, stated: “This partnership confirms Fincantieri’s role as a leader in innovation and a growth engine for the entire national naval industrial ecosystem, able to catalyze the development of new technologies and anticipate the needs of a competitive and rapidly evolving global market such as that of surface drones.”
“Collaborations with highly innovative and high-potential entities like Defcomm also demonstrate the Group’s commitment to promoting, through talent and collaboration with startups and SMEs, cutting-edge solutions for the technological transformation of the naval sector and for the rapid evolution of the Italian industrial base, strengthening its strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty by enhancing the best our country has to offer,” he added.
Federico Zarghetta, entrepreneur with over thirty years of experience in satellite telecommunications on-the-move and high-performance unmanned naval automation, commented: “This partnership is the natural evolution of my ongoing pursuit of innovation, continuous improvement, and adaptation to the ever-increasing demands of the market and international competition. Just as Fincantieri is the undisputed world leader in cruise and military ships, I am certain that Defcomm, together with Fincantieri, will be able to achieve the greatest challenge of the coming years: to bring the leadership of high-tech, high-performance marine surface drones to Italy as quickly as possible.”
Fincantieri is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, the only player active in all high complexity marine industry sectors. The Group is a leader in the construction of cruise ships, naval and offshore vessels, and stands out for its extensive experience in the development of underwater solutions, thanks to its integrated industrial structure capable of managing and coordinating all activities related to the commercial, defense, and dual-use sectors. It holds a strong presence in key markets also thanks to the internalization of high valueadded, distinctive technologies; it is also a leader in sustainable innovation and in the digital transformation of the shipbuilding sector.
The company is active in the field of mechatronics, electronics, and digital naval systems, as well as in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and marine interiors solutions. It also offers a wide range of after-sales services, including logistic support and fleet assistance.
With over 230 years of history and more than 7, 000 ships built, Fincantieri is a global player with a production network of 18 shipyards worldwide and over 23,000 employees. It maintains its know-how, expertise and management centres in Italy, where it directly employs over 12,000 workers and creates around 90,000 indirect jobs.
