Leonardo and Fincantieri, as part of the collaboration and preferred partnerships set up in October 2014, have agreed on the guiding principles of an understanding in the field of military ships to best grasp the new challenges on international markets in order to present joint solutions in an increasingly competitive and demanding sector. The enhancement of the reciprocal competences - developed nationally with a view to the Country System - will go through the relaunch of Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), the Joint Venture held by Fincantieri and Leonardo with shares respectively of 51% and 49%, both parties have envisaged giving resources that will enable them to assume responsibility for the Combat System, defining the requirements and architecture of the individual components, including the Combat Management System (CMS). The agreement will be the subject of subsequent binding agreements that the parties will define in compliance with the applicable regulatory profiles, including those relating to transactions between related parties and antitrust.
The development of the "system-ship" product is based on a long history of collaboration and success on national and export programs that Fincantieri and Leonardo - among the world leaders respectively in the construction of military vessels and in the creation and integrated management of CMS , weapon systems, communications, radar sensors and electoptics - have developed over the years.
Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, commented: "We believe that an ever closer collaboration between the two most important defense companies in the country is crucial. The agreement signed today is the demonstration that our commitment is constantly aimed at the future. As Prime Contractor of the entire naval system, Fincantieri will continue to act as a unique interface to the customer, enhancing the product offer of the two groups, acting in this way also as a driver for the development of technological excellence of small and medium Italian companies in the sector . "
Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo's Managing Director, declared: "With this agreement, the country will present itself in an even more cohesive and effective manner in a highly challenging market, enhancing all the high-tech skills that the two companies can develop and that will be common. Relaunching Orizzonte Sistemi Navali is the best way to encourage the development of the entire national supply chain that contributes to the creation of military ships.
Thanks to the joint offer of products and services, we will increase the competitiveness of Italian industry also on the international market. "
The renewed agreement will strengthen the model of collaboration between Fincantieri and Leonardo to exercise their respective roles and responsibilities more effectively, thus defining a joint product strategy for the military naval sector.
Fincantieri and Leonardo will make the JV Orizzonte Sistemi Navali the Design Authority of the Combat System, with all the necessary skills to carry out this role, improving its operational effectiveness. The JV will therefore represent the vehicle able to maximize the Italian content and the consequent returns for the national industry and its supply chain.
Fincantieri will play the role of Prime Contractor, a unique interface to the customer and responsible for the fighting ship as a whole (Whole Warship Design Authority), therefore responsible for the architecture of the ship system both as regards the platform and the Combat System through OSN , while Leonardo will consolidate as a preferred partner for the Combat Management System and systems and systems of the ship system.
The strengthening of the partnership relationship between Fincantieri and Leonardo will enhance the resources and the excellence of the two groups in view of future commercial and industrial opportunities. The renewed collaboration will allow, in fact, to propose innovative solutions through a more competitive offer characterized by better products and services to be offered on the national and international market, involving SMEs in a more structured way.
To this end, the two Groups decided to set up permanent work tables to facilitate collaboration in the development of new products for naval units and optimization of the supply chain.
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Fincantieri it is one of the most important shipbuilding complexes in the world and the first for diversification and innovation. It is a leader in the design and construction of cruise ships and operator of reference in all sectors of high technology navalmeccanica, from military vessels to offshore, from special vessels and highly complex ferries to mega-yachts, as well as in ship repairs and transformations , production of mechanical and electrical systems and components and in the offer of after-sales services. With over 230 years of history and more than 7.000 ships built, Fincantieri has always maintained in Italy its management center, as well as all the engineering and production skills that characterize its distinctive know-how.
With over 8.400 employees and an armored company that employs almost 50.000 employees, Fincantieri has been able to exploit a fractional production capacity on several sites making it a strong point, managing to acquire the largest portfolio of customers and products in the cruise sector. To cope with the competition and establish itself globally, it has expanded its own
portfolio of products reaching sectors in which it operates worldwide leadership positions.
With internationalization, the Group now has 20 factories in 4 continents, plus 19.000 employees, is the main western shipbuilder and counts among its customers the major cruise operators in the world, the Navy and the US Navy, as well as numerous Marine abroad, and is a partner of some of the leading European defense companies
in the context of supranational programs. The activity of Fincantieri is extremely diversified for final markets, exposure to geographical areas and customer portfolio, with revenues generated mainly between the construction of cruise ships, military vessels and offshore units. This diversification makes it possible to mitigate the effects of possible fluctuations in the demand of the final markets served compared to less diversified operators.
Leonardo is among the top ten companies in the world in Aerospace, Defense and Security and the leading Italian industrial company. Organized in seven business divisions (Helicopters, Airplanes, Aerostructures, Avionics and Space Systems, Electronics for Terrestrial and Naval Defense, Defense Systems, Systems for Security and Information), Leonardo competes on the most important international markets by leveraging its own areas of technological and product leadership. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in the 2017 Leonardo recorded consolidated restated revenues equal to 11,7 billion euros and boasts a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, the USA and Poland.