Destroyer
Horizon-class destroyer
The Horizon-class is a Franco-Italian air-defence destroyer built by Naval Group and Fincantieri, in service since 2008. Four ships were built, two for France and two for Italy, each armed with 48 SYLVER VLS cells for Aster missiles.
France|Naval Group (DCNS) & Fincantieri (Orizzonte)Overview
The Horizon class was jointly developed by France and Italy, after the United Kingdom withdrew from the programme in 1999. The four ships are Forbin (D620) and Chevalier Paul (D621) for France, and Andrea Doria (D553) and Caio Duilio (D554) for Italy. Italian ships entered service in 2007–2009 and French ones in 2008–2011, as commonly cited. Displacement is about 7,050 t full load, length 153 m, speed 29 knots, with CODOG propulsion and a range of 7,000 nm.
The sensors are the Thales S1850M long-range radar and the Leonardo EMPAR multifunction radar. Armament is a 48-cell SYLVER A50 launcher for Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, with Aster 30 giving area defence to roughly 120 km. French ships carry Exocet MM40 and Scalp Naval cruise missiles in later fits, while Italian ships use Teseo/Otomat. A mid-life upgrade is planned in the 2020s, with ballistic missile defence for French ships and Aster 30 Block 1NT for Italian ships.
Key Specifications
Variants
Forbin and Chevalier Paul are the two French Horizon-class destroyers serving with the Marine nationale.
Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio are the two Italian ships, built by Fincantieri for the Marina Militare.
The mid-life upgrade will add ballistic missile defence capability to French ships and Aster 30 Block 1NT to Italian ones.
Operators
France
ItalyFrequently Asked Questions
How many Horizon-class destroyers are there?
Four Horizon-class destroyers were built: Forbin and Chevalier Paul for France, and Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio for Italy. The United Kingdom left the programme in 1999 to develop the Type 45.
What missiles does the Horizon-class carry?
The Horizon-class carries Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles in a 48-cell SYLVER A50 launcher. French ships also carry Exocet MM40 and Scalp Naval cruise missiles, while Italian ships carry Teseo/Otomat anti-ship missiles.
What is the range of the Aster 30 on the Horizon-class?
The Aster 30 on the Horizon-class gives area air defence out to roughly 120 km. The Aster 15 covers shorter ranges. Both are fired from the 48-cell SYLVER A50 launcher.
Which countries use the Horizon-class?
Only France and Italy use the Horizon-class, each with two ships. The class has no other operators. Exports of French frigates to the UAE and Egypt are of different classes (Gowind and FREMM).
Horizon-class vs Type 45: which is better?
The Horizon-class and the British Type 45 both specialise in air defence, and they share a common origin in the 1990s programme. The Horizon uses Aster missiles with a 48-cell launcher; the Type 45 uses a different radar. Open sources give no clear ranking.
How big is the Horizon-class destroyer?
The Horizon-class is about 153 m long and displaces around 7,050 t at full load (French ships). It reaches 29 knots and has a crew of about 200. Italian ships displace about 7,100 t.