The Horizon Upgrade Programme milestone has officially been reached as Naviris and eurosam successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR), signifying the end of the design phase and the transition to full-scale production. This landmark achievement marks a major step forward in the Franco-Italian initiative to modernize their Horizon-class frigates.
Delivered between 2009 and 2011, the four Horizon-class air-defence frigates—Italy’s Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio, and France’s Forbin and Chevalier Paul—are scheduled to receive extensive upgrades from 2026 to 2030. The Horizon Upgrade Programme milestone ensures these frontline assets will be equipped with next-generation technology, maintaining their superior operational performance well into the next decade.
The Horizon Mid-Life Upgrade (HRZ MLU) contract, awarded in July 2023 by OCCAr (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) on behalf of France and Italy, is jointly managed by Naviris and eurosam, with key industrial support from Fincantieri, Naval Group, Leonardo, Thales, SiGen, and MBDA.
The upgrade programme targets national defense priorities, focusing on the integration of enhanced Aster missile-based PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) capabilities and advanced Electronic Warfare Systems (EWS). These improvements are designed to counter evolving threats, resolve system obsolescence, and ensure ongoing combat readiness and reliability.
Following the successful System Design Review (SDR) in 2024 and now the CDR in April 2025, system integration is set to proceed as follows:
• Italian Navy: First-of-Class integration begins mid-2026; second ship by end-2027
• French Navy: First-of-Class integration begins mid-2028; second ship by end-2029
All modernization work is expected to be finalized by 2030, reinforcing the Horizon-class as a cornerstone of naval defence for both nations.
