2010 during Iraqi Freedom 2004 These ships were built with the experience and the technology already developed for the previous . The
Maestrales were quite bigger and heavier, so they were slower, but still capable of around . The ships have a large
superstructure, with one large turret and only one funnel. There are two enclosed pyramid masts, one of which is quite low, the other much taller. The superstructure continues without interruption until the hangar, and is made, as usual, with light alloys. The propulsion system is based on two gas-turbine GE-Avio
LM-2500 and two diesel engines, in a
combined diesel or gas configuration, that make use of diesel for cruising and turbines for high speed. The only problem with this configuration, which is highly economical, is to make the diesel engines powerful enough to achieve sufficient cruising speed without overloading them, or assist them with a continuous use (at low, uneconomical power) of the turbines. In this case, the solution, already developed for the
Lupo-class ships, was successful. The ships have a maximum range of at .
Armament The
Maestrale class ships are armed with an array of systems. Mounted on the foredeck is an
Oto Melara 127 mm/54 gun, capable of shooting 40
rounds per minute. Despite its large size, it was possible to fit it in the relatively small hull, since the
Lupo-class ships were fitted with the same weapon. It has 66 shells on three ready-fire carousels. It also had low reaction times and high elevation, with a shells and range. The ships also carry the Albatross missile system, with an octuple cell capable of firing
Sea Sparrow or
Aspide missiles. This modern weapon contains a monopulse guide and a powerful rocket-engine, and advanced flight controls. The ships carry a supply of 24 missiles, and the system is reloaded by a Riva-Calzoni Automatic Handling System, which is capable of loading up to four missiles at once, making virtually all the missiles in the
magazine ready to be launched. After the turret there are two
CIWS DARDO, with two
40 mm/L70 Bofors guns. They have very rapid mechanical systems, and depots with over 700 shells, and can fire around 600 rounds per minute. The proximity fuses and the fire control systems help this unmanned turret to react quickly to incoming missiles. Also on deck are four
Otomat anti-ship missiles, capable of striking a target or more away, with a warhead. They are fitted over the hangar, where there are two
AB-212 helicopters ASW multi-role machines. Finally, there are four torpedo-launchers, two triple ILAS-3 (similar to
Mk 32) tubes, with 12 torpedoes available (not known if they are shared also with helicopters), and the A.184, a wired torpedo with two launch tubes and six to eight torpedoes. This is the main weapon for ASW tasks, but it also be used as an anti-ship weapon, even though its propulsion system (electric) does not allow great speed and range. Compared to
ASROC, this weapon has many advantages, and does not require a bulky launcher, but needs several minutes, even at , to reach , while ASROC can do this in much less time.
Electronic warfare outfit These ships also have several electronic systems: one radar air and surface search RAN10S () is placed over the smaller tree, a radar of navigation and surface search SPN703 is fitted on the main tree, where a navigation radar is present as well, and finally, three radars: one RTN-10X for gun and Aspide control, and two smaller RTN-20X for the DARDO systems, all fitted in the forward superstructure, separated from the aft by the funnel and the heat dissipaters. As to submarine search, there is a VDS DE 1164 sonar, and DE1160B hull mounted. EW component is focused on Elettronica Spa MM/SLQ-746 ( ==Comparison of
Maestrale and
Lupo classes==