No details were provided on the contract signed with Indonesia, but Naval News understood it would include both industrial training and Italian Navy’s support in ship crew familiarization, alongside initial in-service and integrated logistic support. As a key requirement by the Indonesian MoD, which wanted the ships in a short timeline, the two “PPA frigates”, which are subjected to the order, were originally destined to the Italian Navy. Naval News understood that the two platforms to be delivered to the Indonesian Navy are two PPAs in the Light Plus configuration with anti-air and anti-surface warfare capabilities, namely the 5th and 6th vessels of the PPA class: Marcantonio Colonna (P 433) and Ruggiero di Lauria (P 435), which are currently under different stage of outfitting and trials at Fincantieri Muggiano shipyard.
Naval News understood that the final approval (also known as PSP) by the Indonesian Ministry of Finance is expected soon and the parties involved in the financing scheme are working to meet the Indonesian MoD and Navy requirement to have the ships delivered in a short time. Based on the two ships availability, as the first is well advanced in trials while the second has commenced more recently, given that the financing scheme and all the necessary procedures will be approved in a reduced time, the two ships are expected to be delivered with a stagged programme, which could see both “PPA frigate” with Indonesian markings and flag in 2025, expecting before the same year summer period.
In addition not only to support the national industry but also contributing to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, as demonstrated by the campaign of the second ship of Italian Navy’s Paolo Thaon di Revel-class, Francesco Morosini in the Far East last year, the Italian MoD and Navy will have a key role in supporting the delivery programme. The Italian Navy is expected to provide the familiarization training and support the transfer of knowledge to the Indonesian Navy personnel. Fincantieri will act as the prime contractor towards the Indonesian MoD being responsible for the coordination of the other industrial partners, including Leonardo, MBDA Italia and Elettronica, for the customization of the ship’s combat system and the provision of related logistic support.
The Thaon di Revel-class vessels in the Light Plus configuration represent a huge multirole capability enforcement for the Indonesian Navy as these platforms are equipped with the latest generation Italian Navy’s combat management system (CMS) by Leonardo, the MBDA Italia SAAM ESD PPA air defence missile system based on the MBDA Aster family of missiles (2 Naval Group A50 8-cell VLS for a total of 16 missiles) and the Leonardo Quad C-band four fixed faces AESA radar, alongside an extensive and capable EW suite by Elettronica, and a gun armament including the Leonardo 127/64 mm LW capable of firing Vulcano guided ammunitions and the 76 mm Single Deck gun with anti-missiles and asymmetric threats DART guided ammunitions. This combat system makes the “PPA frigates” among or the most capable air defence platform in the South-East Asian region in addition to the multirole capabilities provided by the flight deck and hangar for large helicopters and unmanned air vehicles as well as the stern modular mission bay and amidships area for a range of payload and missions including disaster relief and humanitarian aid.
No details has been however delivered on the final ship configuration, but it is publicly known, the Indonesian Navy wants anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare in addition to air defence capabilities. The Thaon di Revel-class Light and Light Plus configurations have been designed since the beginning with “fitted for” capabilities and Fincantieri can offer the whole PPA Full combat suite, being able to add a towed sonar array suite and anti-ship missiles launchers in addition to the Leonardo’s X-band StarFire four fixed faces AESA radar, without ship modifications. Based on the customer requirements, funding and delivery timeline, the Indonesian Navy could add these capabilities before or after the delivery. As the South-Asian Navy is already equipped with the MBDA MM40 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship missiles on the latest combatant ships, this weapon system could be among the preferred ones, while for the anti-submarine warfare suite, the Italian Navy’s PPA Full ships are equipped with Leonardo ASW and anti-torpedo towed array solutions.
