# Algeria eyes second LPD from Fincantieri

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2023/03/algeria-eyes-second-lpd-from-fincantieri/
- Published: 2023-03-07T07:29:41+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam

The Algerian Navy could receive a second Landing Platform Dock (LPD) from Fincantieri
under a shipbuilding cooperation agreement developed by Rome and Algiers.

A recent joint shipbuilding agreement between Algeria and Italy was entered in January
when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Algeria to boost cooperation 
between the two countries. Besides naval shipbuilding, both countries also discussed
energy deals. The agreement was discussed during the 13th Italy-Algeria Bilateral
Committee at the end of November.

At the meeting, Algeria stated that it desires to partner with Italy in the procurement
of military equipment, as well as the preparations of the military-industrial sector
of this country in starting cooperation that includes exchange, technology transfer,
training and targeted training for crews and technicians working in Algeria.

Italian Fincantieri could work with Algeria’s Établissement de Construction et de
Reparation Navale (ECRN) to supply a Landing Platform Dock and other vessels to 
the Algerian naval force.

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Fincantieri has already built and delivered one Enhanced San Giusto-class LPD named
Kalaat Beni-Abbes in 2011. Kalaat Beni-Abbes LPD was launched on 8 January 2014 
at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigosa. The vessel was delivered to the Algerian
Navy on 4 September 2014 but did not arrive in Algeria until March 2015.

The LPD features an internal floodable dock measuring 20.5x7m, capable of accommodating
a ready-to-go 20m landing craft and two other landing craft of the same size travelling
attached to the ship’s deck. The ship is fitted with an EMPAR radar for detecting
long-range threats, and 16 Aster 15 missiles in two vertical A-50 launchers, as 
well as a 76 mm turret and two Oerlikon KBA 25×137 mm cannons that can be used for
defence against aircraft or surface targets. The vessel also has a complete electronic
warfare suite provided by Thales and Elettronica, linked to two SCLAR-H Oto-Melara
decoy launchers.

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Over the past decade, Algeria has ordered a number of vessels from Moscow and [China ](https://www.military.africa/2020/06/algeria-looks-to-china-for-new-corvette/)
and maintained its fleet of older Soviet-era equipment. Algeria operates several
Soviet-era vessels, including three Nanuchka-class corvettes due to retire in 2025
and three Koni-class frigates retiring slightly later in 2030.

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Kalaat Beni-Abbes features the same EMPAR radar used on Italian Horizon-class destroyers
and the aircraft carrier Cavour, giving it considerable anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities.

The second LPD for Algeria could be based on another Enhanced San Giusto-class LPD
being built by Fincantieri for Qatar Al Fulk. Qatari Al Fulk LPD was launched in
January.

Meanwhile, the [Algerian air force intends to acquire all-new AW249 attack helicopters and seven AW-139 helicopters from Italian Leonardo.](https://www.military.africa/2022/12/algeria-interested-in-leonardo-aw249-attack-helicopter/)
This was revealed at the thirteenth session of the Algerian-Italian Bilateral Committee
for Cooperation in the Defense Sector held on November 30 last year, at the Guidoni
Palace in the capital, Rome, which is the headquarters of the General Secretariat
of Defense and the National Directorate of Armaments in Italy.

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