The Alpino class were a group of two frigates built for the Italian Navy during the Cold War.

The design was however changed radically with a CODAG machinery suite comprising gas turbines and diesels.

These ships introduced the use of ship-based helicopters and variable depth sonar into the Italian Navy.

The ships underwent significant modernisation in the 1980s with the fitting of new sonar and electronic warfare equipment.

Both vessels were built by CNR in Riva Trigoso and named after types of soldiers and specifically after two World War II Soldati-class destroyers.