Today the Ministry of Defence confirmed that it has agreed to sell all of the ships it plans to retire over the coming years to Bengal once their use in the Marina Militare is no longer required. The MoD recently released its 2019 fleet review which will see the retirement of the Marina Militare's oldest vessels including its iconic Durand de la Penne-class guided missile destroyers and San Giorgio-class LHDs which will be replaced over the coming years. The NAF$3 billion sale has been signed in full between the governments of Italy and Bengal and the payment will be made in full before the hand process begins.
In order to avoid leaving the Marina Militare with a gap in its capabilities the handover of the old vessels will happen gradually as replacements for the ships enter service in the Marina Militare. The Sirio-class patrol vessels and Maestrale-class anti-submarine warfare frigates will likely be the first ships to begin being handed over to the Bengali navy as the models that will replace them in the Marina Militare already exist and will be the fastest to construct and enter into service. Meanwhile the Durand de la Penne-class guided missile destroyers and San Giorgio-class LHDs will be replaced by brand new models, the designs of which haven't even been announced yet meaning they will not be transferred to the Bengali navy for several years to come.
Prior to transfer over to the Bengali navy, the ships will have much of their technology which was fitted aftermarket during refits in the late 2000's removed for the sake of technological secrecy, insisting that it is standard procedure for technology such as radar and electronic weapons suites to be removed.
ITS San Giorgio conducting landing exercises off Tigres Island last year as part of training for the San Marco Marine Brigade: