Italian Commandante Class light combatant ship 'Commandante Bettica' (P492)

Four Commandante Class light combatant ships have been built for the Italian Navy by Fincantieri at the Riva Trigoso shipyard. The programme is also known as NUMC (Nuove Unità Minori Combattenti or New Minor Combatant). The first of class, Commandante Cigala Fulgosi (P490), and the Commandante Borsini (P491) were commissioned in 2002, Commandante Bettica (P492) in 2003 and Commandante Foscari (P493) in 2004.


The ship's main missions are long and medium range patrol and the vessel carries fuel and stores for an endurance of ten days. The main patrol missions are primarily for surveillance and secondly for surface combat operations. The missions include establishing presence in and patrolling international waters, patrolling and guarding maritime borders and surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone.