SIMONA program - an Italian version of Sea Launch

[smoliarm]

Apparently Italy plans to convert old aircraft carrier to maritime launch platform:

Official renders of complete SIMONA program system (for maritime launch platform). Italian Navy Garibaldi C551 aircraft carrier will be converted as a naval satellite launch platform and making the acquisition of a strategic and independent national access to the space.

https://twitter.com/CiroNappi6/status/1480462808231915520

[trimeta]

Any word on what they plan to launch from it? Although given Vega's country of origin, probably that.

[russianhalo117]

Any word on what they plan to launch from it? Although given Vega's country of origin, probably that.

AVIO derived missile with direct lineage to the Italian Alfa (alternative to US Polaris) ICBM programme shelved by 1975. Scout and Vega flies are also based off ALFA. Vega-C lite comes to mind in terms of size a though AVIO can support the diameter of P120C class motors.

Original announcement article:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/03/17/italys-extra-aircraft-carrier-could-become-a-floating-space-base/?sh=184022b83f39

[Zed_Noir]

This is a waste of Euros, IMO. The Garibaldi is old, was commissioned back in 1985. Most of her contemporaries have gone to the breakers (e.g. HMS Invincible of the Royal Navy).


AIUI they will have to rebuild a major portion of the ship for it to act as a maritime launch platform. It is likely cheaper and quicker to build a new ship as a maritime launch platform. Converting old naval warships to a totally different role usually ends with a lot of red ink for a short extended service life.

[russianhalo117]

This is a waste of Euros, IMO. The Garibaldi is old, was commissioned back in 1985. Most of her contemporaries have gone to the breakers (e.g. HMS Invincible of the Royal Navy).

AIUI they will have to rebuild a major portion of the ship for it to act as a maritime launch platform. It is likely cheaper and quicker to build a new ship as a maritime launch platform. Converting old naval warships to a totally different role usually ends with a lot of red ink for a short extended service life.

It has or will soon be in the dry docks scheduled to perform the work where it will remain for decommissioning and servicing then  being its home until the conversion. A lot of existing infrastructure on the ship related to aircraft is to be abandoned in place. They actually looked into a Sea-Launch approach and the Scout San Marco Platform. The plan for a new purpose built naval vessel to host it is still on the table, but now long ways down the line with the aircraft carrier cited as being able to support multiple launches during a single outing and claimed to be quicker and cheaper than other alternatives.

[eeergo]

Any word on what they plan to launch from it? Although given Vega's country of origin, probably that.

AVIO derived missile with direct lineage to the Italian Alfa (alternative to US Polaris) ICBM programme shelved by 1975. Scout and Vega flies are also based off ALFA. Vega-C lite comes to mind in terms of size a though AVIO can support the diameter of P120C class motors.

Original announcement article:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/03/17/italys-extra-aircraft-carrier-could-become-a-floating-space-base/?sh=184022b83f39

Some tidbits were shared here: "Essentially 2 launchers, a "micro"launcher of 17 tonnns and 13m long, and another "mini"launcher of 60 tonnes and 19m long", aiming at<500 kg payloads. They would be pneumatically pushed out of a canister à la CZ-11H.

https://twitter.com/CiroNappi6/status/1349340651377319936

[edzieba]

Could skip refit and go the Operation Sandy route, and bolt the extra hardware to top of the deck.

[Zed_Noir]

Could skip refit and go the Operation Sandy route, and bolt the extra hardware to top of the deck.

Refits are needed for the ship to withstand the down wash from the launchers, especially solid launchers derived from large ballistic missiles.

[Skyrocket]

I would suspect the operating costs for an old aircraft carrier are prohibitively high.

I guess for a small solid launcher the Chinese way used for the CZ-11H is much more sensible - a commercial barge or small cargo ship.