As part of the ongoing bilateral defense cooperation between Argentina and the Italian Republic—and in light of recent statements by the Secretary of International Affairs of the Ministry of Defense, Juan Battaleme, on his X account—the Argentine Navy is currently assessing the potential incorporation of Maestrale-class frigates, units recently decommissioned by the Marina Militare.
This offer adds to others under evaluation, such as the San Giorgio-class amphibious assault ships. The Maestrale-class frigates were designed and built by the Fincantieri shipyard between 1982 and 1985 as an evolution of the Lupo-class, which was widely exported to various navies. Their design was primarily focused on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, although they also feature anti-air and anti-surface capabilities.
Over more than four decades of service, these units demonstrated their versatility by participating in numerous international deployments, both in the Mediterranean and in other areas of strategic interest to Italy. The last unit of the class to be retired was the frigate ITS Grecale (F 571), officially decommissioned on April 1 after nearly 42 years of service. Launched in September 1981 and delivered to the Marina Militare in February 1983, Grecale accumulated over 600,000 nautical miles and 50,000 hours of activity, becoming one of the most active ships of her generation.
Between 2007 and 2010, she was one of four frigates modernized to extend their service life, alongside Libeccio, Scirocco, and Zeffiro. These frigates are 123 meters in length, displace 3,040 tons at full load, and are powered by a CODAG (Combined Diesel and Gas) propulsion system consisting of two Fiat–General Electric LM-2500 gas turbines and two diesel engines, allowing a top speed of 30 knots and an operational range of 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. Their primary armament includes Otomat Teseo Mk 2 anti-ship missiles, Aspide surface-to-air missiles launched from a bow-mounted Albatros system, a 127 mm naval gun, and 533 mm and 324 mm torpedo tubes, reinforcing their ASW profile.
From a technical standpoint, the potential acquisition of the Maestrale-class frigates, while it would help restore the number of active units in the Argentine fleet, would not represent a significant systems upgrade—except for the Otomat system, which offers greater range than the MM40 Exocet missiles currently in service with the MEKO 360 class. Their advanced age, comparable to that of Argentina’s main surface units, could pose challenges in terms of maintenance, spare parts availability, and operational costs.
Despite these limitations, the incorporation of multipurpose platforms like the Maestrale could represent a temporary solution to the Argentine Navy’s shortage of active surface combatants. The Italian frigates still offer relevant capabilities in anti-submarine warfare and have modernized electronics that could support surveillance and control tasks in the South Atlantic.
In parallel, another proposal under review by the Italian government is the transfer of San Giorgio-class amphibious assault ships, designed for power projection and humanitarian assistance operations. Built between 1984 and 2014, these ships displace nearly 8,000 tons, measure 133 meters in length with a beam of 20.5 meters, and can carry 350 troops and 30 armored vehicles. They are equipped with a flight deck for light and medium helicopters, although they lack an enclosed hangar.
Should either of these transfers—Maestrale-class frigates or San Giorgio-class ships—materialize, they would need to be framed within a broader strategy of short-term capability recovery. Although these are second-hand platforms, their incorporation would serve as a stopgap while medium- and long-term structural projects move forward. For now, and as officially stated, both options remain under evaluation, with no definitive course of action yet determined.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only
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