Indonesia has successfully obtained a loan to purchase two Thaon de Revel-class PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) multi-role offshore patrol vessels from the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri. Indonesia is expected to designate the two multi-role patrol vessels as KRI Brawijaya (pennant number 320) and KRI Prabu Siliwangi (pennant number 321). The signing of the loan agreement between Indonesia and its Ministry of Finance took place before the end of 2024. Each vessel will have a displacement ranging from 5,800 to 6,300 tons.
Between March 2022 and September 2023, the Italian Navy commissioned three PPA patrol vessels. In March of the previous year, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense and Fincantieri entered into a contract worth EUR 1.18 billion (IDR 19.86 trillion) to acquire two PPA-class multi-role patrol vessels for the Indonesian Navy.
The Italian shipbuilder describes the PPA-class multi-role patrol vessels as highly versatile and technologically advanced, capable of undertaking various tasks such as patrol missions, sea rescues, civil defense, and combat operations. The two vessels acquired by Indonesia were initially intended for the Italian Navy and are currently under construction at the Integrated Shipyard in Riva Trigoso-Muggiano, Italy. By 2026, the Italian Navy plans to have a fleet of six PPA-class vessels, with two already in service. The first PPA-class patrol vessel for the Italian Navy was completed in 2017.
Fincantieri noted that Indonesia’s interest in the PPA-class patrol vessels was triggered by the deployment of the Italian Navy’s second PPA vessel, ‘Francesco Morosini,’ to the eastern region, which included a visit to Indonesia in July 2023. The ‘Francesco Morosini’ also stopped in Malaysia to participate in the LIMA 2023 exhibition in Langkawi in May 2023, though it did not appear to capture the attention of Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense or the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
Indonesia’s acquisition of two PPA-class multi-role patrol vessels is anticipated to strengthen collaboration and synergies in operations, industry, and technology between Jakarta and Rome. These vessels will aid Indonesia in protecting its national interests and play a key role in promoting stability within the Indo-Pacific region.
The ‘Francesco Morosini’ is a PPA-class multi-role patrol vessel with a displacement of 6,400 tons and a length of 143 meters. It can accommodate a crew of 170 personnel. Capable of reaching speeds up to 32 knots, the vessel is equipped with advanced armament, including Teseo/Otomat Mk-2/E anti-ship missiles, CAMM-ER or SCALP ER air defense missiles, and can carry an SH90 helicopter.
(Source: Defense Security Asia)