Image for representation purposes only Italy has signed a €3.7 billion ($4.21 billion) contract to build two new DDX destroyers for its Navy. The contract was awarded by the European Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) to Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN). The joint venture is owned by Fincantieri and Leonardo. Fincantieri owns 51% of OSN and Leonardo owns 49%. The two destroyers are due to be delivered in 2033 and 2035. They will replace two Durand de la Penne-class destroyers in the Italian Navy. The ships will have new air and missile defence systems. Fincantieri and Leonardo said the DDX programme will give the Navy ships that can deal with different types of threats. About €1.3 billion of the €3.7 billion contract is made up of options. The companies said the contract is worth about €1.8 billion to Fincantieri and €1.7 billion to Leonardo. OSN will sign the related contracts with Fincantieri and Leonardo in the coming weeks. Fincantieri will design and build the ships. Leonardo will work on their combat systems. Italy first announced plans for the DDX destroyers in 2020. At that time, the first ships were expected to be delivered in 2028. A construction contract was reportedly planned for 2023, subject to funding. Italian outlet Infodifesa reported that problems likely linked to operational requirements and funding caused a three-year delay. Each DDX destroyer will be 180 metres long and have a displacement of 13,500 tonnes. The ships will have a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles, according to the companies. The programme will upgrade the Italian Navy’s air and missile defence systems, Fincantieri and Leonardo said. Radar and weapons The ships will use the SADOC 5 C5I combat system, an S-band AESA radar and MBDA weapon systems. The companies said the system will provide air and missile defence against missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonic threats. The destroyers will also have a DC power network with energy storage. Other systems