Italy Offers 2 PPA Warships to Indonesia

Italy is reportedly in discussions to sell two Pattugliatore Polivante d'Altura (PPA) Paolo Thaon class multipurpose patrol boats to Indonesia.

The ships to be sold would be among those already being built for the Italian navy in order to accelerate delivery, Italian junior defense minister Matteo Perego di Cremnago was quoted as saying by Defense News.

Perego emphasized that escalating tensions with China in the region have created a pressing need for Indonesia to bolster its naval assets rapidly.

Italy had previously ordered seven PPA multipurpose patrol boats from Fincantieri, with the sixth vessel from that order, named Ruggiero di Lauria, being launched on October 6.

The two PPA multipurpose patrol boats destined for Indonesia are those that have been launched but are not yet operational, potentially including a seventh ship that remains unlaunched. Italy also placed orders for two additional PPA multipurpose patrol vessels to address their own naval requirements.

Perego noted that the specific ships that will be provided to Indonesia have not been finalized and will depend on the timing of the contract signing.

The Italian-made PPA Paolo Thaon class multipurpose patrol boats boast a length of 143 meters and displace approximately 4,900 tonnes. They are versatile warships designed for a wide range of missions, from disaster relief operations to military assistance.

One standout feature is the cockpit design, resembling that of an airplane, which allows the ship to be efficiently operated by just two navigators. Categorized as corvettes, the Paolo Thaon class PPAs are equipped with weaponry surpassing typical frigates, approaching the capabilities of heavy-class frigates. They come with a range of defense systems, spanning from a lighter version suitable for patrol duties to a full-fledged version with maximum defensive capabilities.