New patrol ships to be handed over to Indonesian Navy

Italian shipyard Fincantieri held a formal naming ceremony for two new patrol ships in a series at its Muggiano facilities on Wednesday, January 25.

KRI Brawijaya and KRI Prabu Siliwangi were originally built as offshore patrol vessels (Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura; PPA) belonging to the Thaon di Revel-class ordered by the Italian Navy. They will be handed over to the Indonesian Navy later this year in fulfilment of a €1.18 billion (US$1.23 billion) contract signed win Fincantieri in 2024.

The PPAs each have an LOA of 143 metres, a beam of 16.5 metres, a draught of 10.5 metres, and accommodations for 135 crewmembers. Deck space is also available for an 11-metre long rigid inflatable boat (RIB) that the crew can use for at-sea interceptions and boardings. The RIB is deployed into and recovered from the water via davits or a stern ramp.

A combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion arrangement driving two controllable-pitch propellers will allow each PPA to reach 32 knots while low-speed sailings will utilise onboard electric motors, though the wave-piercing bow design helps reduce fuel consumption even at higher speeds.

The ships will also be capable of dealing with surface, subsurface, and airborne threats thanks to the installation of 76mm and 127mm naval guns, 25mm close-in weapon systems, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, and torpedoes.