The design of these ships was related to the previous Impavido-class, but they were meant as a decisive improvement over these older vessels.

They hull was more capable to resist high sea conditions, incorporating an aft superstructure used to accommodating two AB-212 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.

[1] The superstructures were built with aluminium alloys in two blocks with one mack (this is the combination with the funnels supporting metallic, short trees used for radar equipment) each.

The distance between the two superstructure blocks was high, as both the propulsion systems were located at midships and over this, the 76 mm gun battery.

[2] Due to its anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and anti-ship characteristics, the Ardito was the most modern that had been conceived and built up to then in the field of military naval construction.