Indonesia Secures Foreign Loan to Finance Acquisition of Two Italian PPA-Class Warships

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Indonesia has successfully secured a loan to finance the acquisition of two PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) multi-role offshore patrol vessels, known as the Thaon de Revel class, from the shipbuilding company Fincantieri.

According to a report by defense portal Janes, Indonesia obtained a loan of US$1.25 billion (RM5.43 billion) from BNP Paribas, with additional contributions from Credit Agricole and support from Italian financial institution SACE.

Indonesia reportedly plans to name the two multi-role patrol vessels KRI Brawijaya (pennant number 320) and KRI Prabu Siliwangi (pennant number 321).

The loan agreement signing between Indonesia and Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance is expected to occur before the end of 2024.

Each vessel will have a displacement of between 5,800 and 6,300 tons.

Currently, the Italian Navy has commissioned three PPA patrol vessels between March 2022 and September 2023.

In March, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense and Fincantieri signed a €1.18 billion (RM5.9 billion) contract for the acquisition of two PPA-class multi-role patrol vessels for the Southeast Asian nation’s navy.

According to the Italian shipbuilder, the PPA-class multi-role patrol vessels are highly versatile and technologically advanced.

They can perform a variety of roles, from patrol missions and sea rescues to civil defense and combat operations.

The two vessels being acquired by Indonesia were originally intended for the Italian Navy and are currently under construction at the Integrated Shipyard in Riva Trigoso-Muggiano, Italy.

The Italian Navy plans to have a fleet of six PPA-class multi-role patrol vessels by 2026, with two already in service.

The first PPA-class patrol vessel for the Italian Navy was built in 2017.

Fincantieri stated that Indonesia’s interest in the PPA-class patrol vessels was sparked by the eastern deployment of the Italian Navy’s second PPA vessel, *Francesco Morosini*, which visited Indonesia in July 2023.

The *Francesco Morosini* also stopped in Malaysia to participate in the LIMA 2023 exhibition in Langkawi in May last year, but it did not seem to draw the interest of Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

Indonesia’s acquisition of two PPA-class multi-role patrol vessels is expected to enhance cooperation and synergy in operations, industry, and technology between Jakarta and Rome.

“These PPA-class patrol vessels will support Indonesia’s efforts to safeguard its interests and contribute to stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” Fincantieri stated.

The *Francesco Morosini*, weighing 6,400 tons and measuring 143 meters in length, is capable of carrying a crew of 170.

The PPA-class multi-role patrol vessel can reach speeds of up to 32 knots and is armed with Teseo/Otomat Mk-2/E anti-ship missiles, CAMM-ER or SCALP ER air defense missiles, and carries an SH90 helicopter. — DSA