The Indonesian Navy To Procure Two Thaon di Revel Class OPVs From Fincantieri
The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has recently signed a contract with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the procurement of two Thaon di Revel class (also known as Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura – PPA) offshore patrol vessels. The contract, which is valued at 1.18 billion Euros (1.27 billion USD), was signed by Fincantieri CEO and General Manager Pierroberto Folgiero and the Indonesian Ministry of Defense in the presence of Dario Deste, General Manager of the Naval Vessels Division.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, stated regarding the contract: “This contract is a milestone for the development of a strategic partnership between our Group and Indonesia. We view this as the first of many significant collaborative opportunities with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, following a long-term partnership approach thanks to the structural support of our institutions, starting with the Ministry of Defence and the Italian Navy. Southeast Asia is a region of central geopolitical importance where Fincantieri aims to strengthen its presence, as defined in the Business Plan”.
According to Fincantieri, this agreement, which marks an important milestone in Italy-Indonesia bilateral defense cooperation, includes the delivery of two PPAs to the Indonesian Navy, which were originally designed for the Italian Navy and are currently being constructed and assembled at the Integrated Shipyard in Riva Trigoso–Muggiano. As part of the contract, Fincantieri will serve as the Indonesian Ministry of Defense’s prime contractor, specifically coordinating with other industrial partners, including Leonardo, to customize the ships’ combat systems and provide relevant logistics services. The collaboration will adhere to tight regulatory standards governing transactions between relevant parties, ensuring transparency and compliance at all stages.
This contract, however, does not constitute a final purchase agreement because the Jakarta government has yet to finance the purchase. A similar situation occurred previously, when the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Fincantieri on June 10, 2021, for the order of six FREMM frigates, two Maestrale-class frigates, and other logistics support, but the Jakarta government was unable to finance this commitment, and the contract has yet to enter into effect. Unlike the previous agreement, the ships are expected to be delivered to the Indonesian Navy between 2025 and 2026, subject to receiving the necessary permits from the appropriate authorities.
Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura, also known as Thaon di Revel, is a naval platform capable of performing a variety of tasks, including patrolling, surface warfare, anti-piracy, surveillance, protection, and control over maritime zones. The ship has a total length of approximately 143.00 meters and a perpendicular length of 133.00 meters, with a width of 16.50 meters and a depth of 10.50 meters. These vehicles have a maximum speed of 32 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles thanks to an advanced CODAG CC propulsion system that combines two diesel engines with turbine alternator gas (TAG) or two fuel cell power packs (FCPP). The ship, which can accommodate a maximum crew of 171 people, has a flight deck for SH90 or EH101 helicopters and a hangar that can accommodate two SH90s or one EH101.
The PPA is available in three configurations (Light, Light Plus, and Full) with varying levels of capability. The Light configuration only has an Oto Melara 127mm/64 Vulcano main gun, an Oto Melara 76mm/62 Strales secondary gun, an Oerlikon KBA B06 25mm autocannon, and two Oto Melara RCWS, whereas the Light+ and Full configurations also have Aster anti-aircraft missiles, Teseo anti-ship missiles, and Black Arrow torpedoes. Depending on their configuration, the ships also have a Cockpit Control System, Combat Management System (CMS), Internal and External Communication Systems, Navigation Radars, Infrared Surveillance System, Electronic Warfare (EW) Package, and Fire Control System.