Patrol boats to Indonesia, orders to Muggiano
The negotiation for the sale of two warships is close to conclusion: they should be the "Giovanni della Bande Nere" and the "Marcantonio Colonna"
DANIELE IZZO
November 15, 2023 at 10:55 2 minute
A Fincantieri patrol vessel
La Spezia - Italy is preparing to sell two multipurpose offshore patrol vessels to Indonesia.
The deal has not yet materialized, but the negotiation is close to completion. Spezia, once again, comes close to major international military maneuvers. This time for a double reason. The first: the two ships affected by the rumors have passed or will pass through the Fincantieri shipyards in Muggiano. The second: the talks between the two nations arise from the Indo-Pacific tour of the PPA Francesco Morosini, which started from the Gulf of Poets. There are two units under observation, but there are no certainties.
The boats built by Fincantieri, which Italy will hand over to the Indonesian government, could be among those launched but not in service. Or include those not yet inaugurated. There are many possibilities.
Although, according to what has been said by qualified sources, two ready-made multi-purpose offshore patrol vessels will be sold: the "Giovanni delle Bande Nere" and the "Marcantonio Colonna". Uno, launched in 2022 in Riva Trigoso and then transferred to Muggiano for preparation on the quay, is the first full version PPA. Delivery to the Navy is scheduled for 2024. But at this point, if the negotiations were to come to fruition, it could be directly delivered to the Indonesian government like the Colonna, the other unit built and launched between the Gulf of Poets and the Tigullio. Indonesia, as well as other countries in the Asian region, wants fleet numbers and technology quickly.
The talks between the two nations began between spring and summer. After leaving La Spezia last April 6, the Morosini touched several eastern ports. Among these also Jakarta, where the local navy had the opportunity to closely observe its futuristic qualities. The multipurpose offshore patrol vessel, in fact, represents a highly flexible type of ship, capable of carrying out multiple tasks. There are three variants designed: Light, Light plus and Full. What changes from one model to another are the configurations of the combat system. We start from a "light" version, which can carry out patrolling missions but is integrated with self-defense systems. And we get to the "complete" one, equipped with maximum response capabilities. Their distinctive line is the bridge in naval cockpit version. Designed with the help of aviators to resemble that of an airplane, it requires only two men to operate the unit. And it is not a characteristic to be underestimated, if you consider that the ships in question are an impressive 143 meters long and can be used in various fields, from disaster relief to complete war combat.
Read more:
È vicina alla conclusione la trattativa per la vendita di due supernavi da guerra: dovrebbero essere il “Giovanni della Bande Nere” e il “Marcantonio Colonna”
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