TSAMTO, November 24. Italy intends to sell Indonesia two multipurpose offshore patrol ships PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d'altura / Multifunctional Offshore Patrol Vessel).
As reported by the resource Ilsecoloxix.it, the deal has not yet taken place, but negotiations are nearing completion. We are talking about two ships that have already been built (for the Italian Navy) or will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Mugiano. The negotiations between the two countries were the result of the tour of the ship PPA Francesco Morosini (P-431) in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to informed sources, two ships that have not yet been commissioned, but are already ready for use for their intended purpose, can be sold to the Indonesian side: Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P-434) and Marcantonio Colonna (P-433).
The first ship, Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P-434), was launched in 2022 in Riva Trigoso, and then moved to the shipyard in Mugiano for retrofitting. It is the first PPA ships in a fully functional version. Its delivery to the Italian Navy is scheduled for 2024. The ship Marcantonio Colonna (P-433) has also already been built and launched.
Negotiations between the two countries began in the spring of this year and continued in the summer. After leaving La Spezia on April 6, Francesco Morosini (P-431) visited several ports in the Asia-Pacific region, including Jakarta.
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On June 10, 2021, the Italian company Fincantieri announced the signing of a contract with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense for the supply of 6 new FREMM-class frigates, as well as 2 upgraded Maestrale-class frigates from the Italian Navy and related logistical support. The cost of the sale, the delivery time of the ships, as well as the degree of participation in the project of Indonesian companies have not yet been disclosed.
As previously reported by TSAMTO, the construction of PPA ships is carried out by Fincantieri within the framework of the Italian Navy restoration program implemented since the beginning of 2015, the total cost of which is estimated at 5.4 billion. euro ($5.8 billion).
Contracts for the construction of one LSS support ship and 6 multi–purpose PPA patrol ships (with an option for four more) in May 2015 were signed on behalf of the Italian Navy by the European Organization for Cooperation in the Field of Armaments (OCCAR - Organization Conjointe de Cooperation en Matiere d'Armement) with the RTI consortium (Raggruppamento Temporaneo di Impresa), formed by Fincantieri and the Selex ES division of Finmeccanica. In November 2015, OCCAR signed a contract with RTI for the supply of the seventh PPA ship, having implemented the first option to the basic agreement.
As planned, seven PPA ships will be made in three different configurations (Full Combat, Light Plus and Light), the displacement of which will vary from 5830 to 6270 tons.
The launch of the lead ship of the PPA, Paolo Thaon di Revel (P430), took place in June 2019. It was transferred to the Italian Navy on March 18, 2022.
Steel cutting for the second ship of the series, Francesco Morosini (P431), began in October 2017, keel laying took place in February 2018, and launching – in May 2020.
To date, six ships of the series have been launched. Another one is under construction. It was assumed that one PPA ship would be transferred to the Italian Navy annually in the period 2022-2026, with the exception of 2024, when two ships will be delivered.