Two newest Italian-made PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) Paolo Thaon multipurpose offshore warships have become part of the Indonesian Navy fleet, officially named KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321.
The two warships were initially named Ruggero di Laura and Marcantonio Colonna, respectively.
The renaming ceremony was led by Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali at the Fincantieri Muggiano shipyard, Italy, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. It was also attended by Fincantieri Chairman Biagio Mazzotta and Italian Navy Deputy Chief of Staff Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto.
Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said in his written remarks, which were read by Muhammad Ali, that the presence of these two ships is evidence of the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s defense force, especially the Indonesian Navy.
He said further that this collaboration also shows the importance of Indonesia’s strategic partnership with international partners in the development of modern and highly competitive defense equipment.
“We have just witnessed the naming ceremony of two offshore patrol ships, KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321. The naming is not just a formality, but a strategic step in building the ship’s identity. These names were chosen as a symbol of hope, prayer, and determination to uphold the nation’s sovereignty and honor in the world’s oceans,” Sjafrie said.
The two warships are also known as MPCS (Multipurpose Combat Ship/PPA), which is part of a contract signed by Fincantieri in 2024 with a value of around €1.18 billion.
The MPCS/PPA is a highly versatile class of ships designed to perform a variety of missions, including forward combat operations, maritime patrol, rescue, and civil protection activities.
These ships are the result of strategic cooperation between the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and Fincantieri. With a length of 143 meters, a width of 16.5 meters, and a draft of 5.2 meters, this ship is capable of traveling at a maximum speed of 32 knots.
Equipped with a combination of diesel, electric, and gas turbine propulsion systems, this ship is also armed with a SAM 16 VL missile system.
The names KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321 are taken from the figures of the kings of the archipelago, which are taken from the names of the King of Majapahit and the King of Pajajaran. The two names were chosen to honor the history of the leadership of the two great kingdoms on the island of Java, namely East Java and West Java respectively.
The two ships sold to Indonesia were originally built as the fifth and sixth units for the Italian Navy. With sophisticated technology and modern weapon systems, the two are expected to perform various strategic missions.
