A future SSN for Italy?

The potential to develop a nuclear reactor for Italian naval applications is becoming a reality, although it remains a long-term project. According to the forum of the Rivista Italian Difesa (RID), in August 2024, the Italian Ministry of Defense awarded a contract to the A.T.S. consortium, led by Fincantieri and including CETENA, Ansaldo Nucleare, and RINA Services, to advance the “Minerva” project. This initiative aims to adapt nuclear technologies for use aboard Italian Navy vessels, both submarines and surface ships (https://www.difesa.it/assets/allegati/33770/t1779_avviso_avvenuta_aggiudicazione.pdf).

Simply put, the project seeks to explore and develop the feasibility of integrating advanced small nuclear reactors on future Italian ships and submarines. This development leverages Ansaldo’s progress on fourth-generation lead-cooled reactors (ALFRED), a technology already under Italian development. These reactors, focusing on modularity and safety, could form the core of the Navy’s future fleet, with deliveries expected between the 2030s and 2040s, aligning with the “Next Generation Submarine” (NGS) project, which plans for new submarines by 2040.

The modularity of these reactors could not only improve reliability and safety but also reduce construction and maintenance costs, crucial factors for a country entering this technology for the first time.

Strategically, equipping Italy with nuclear-powered vessels would offer advantages in energy autonomy and force projection, particularly within an “expanded Mediterranean” framework where the Navy’s reach could extend to more distant regions. Nuclear energy for naval applications would enable extended-range operations without the need for frequent refueling, a crucial requirement for long-distance missions.

However, Italy faces significant challenges: developing an SSN (Submersible Ship Nuclear, nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarine) would require substantial investments, structural changes in naval logistics, and, not least, a solid legal and social foundation to support nuclear energy.