PPA Full 120 crew; PPA Light+ + 90; PPA Light 90;
(add 24 crew for two helos on board and other 89/59 beds for optional boarding team, marines team, maritime command staffs, etc.)
It is planned to replace four Soldati-class light patrol frigates and eight Minerva-class corvettes between 2021 and 2035. As part of the 2014 Naval Law, a total of sixteen ships were planned and as of 2019 seven vessels have been financed with three more on option, not executed. European Patrol Corvette, a class of lighter ships built into an UE cooperation should complete the Italian Navy needs.[14][15]
In March 2024, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Fincantieri for the acquisition of two of the ships under construction for the Italian Navy, and construction of two replacement units is expected in the future.[16][17]
Variants
The class, designed with a high level of modularity and automation, is going to be delivered in a full, a light+ and a light configuration in terms of different sensors and equipment embarked and can perform multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to civil protection operations and, in its most highly equipped version, first line fighting vessel.[18]
The Light configuration has only gun armament and X band radar 4FF. The Light+ (C band radar 4FF) and Full (complete DBR radar) options also mount Aster anti-aircraft missiles, including the new 30 NT, which is capable of intercepting MRBMs. The Full version includes an Active Towed Array Sonar and a full suite of EW: RESM, CESM, RECM.
All configurations have the option to mount TESEO "EVO" MK2/E anti-ship missile launchers.
According to RID, the Italian Navy ordered the new MBDA TESEO MK/2E heavy-duty missile (TESEO "EVO"), a long-range anti-ship missile with also land attack capability. Compared to the predecessor OTOMAT/TESEO, the TESEO "EVO" MK/2E has a double range or more than 360 km.[19][20][21][22]
During the launching ceremony of Marcantonio Colonna on 26 November 2022, Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy Admiral Enrico Credendino announced that the two 'Light' configuration ships - Paolo Thaon di Revel and Francesco Morosini - would be refit into the 'Full' configuration. Thus, the class would feature a total of four 'Full' ships and three 'Light+'.[23]
Italy's latest proposal for the Hellenic Navy contains four Doha-class corvettes, a type designed for the Qatari Emiri Navy, and two Thaon di Revel-class multipurpose offshore ships.[39] As of June 2022, the Hellenic Navy's focus seems to be on the Gowind class (French proposal) and the Doha class (Italian proposal).
In October 2023, Italy plans to export two ships to Indonesia. The ships to be sold would be among those that already being built for the Italian navy in order to accelerate delivery. Transfer of technology and know-how would also included in the deal.[40] In March 2024, Fincantieri and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence have signed a 1.18 billion euro contract for the supply of two PPA Units.[41] According to Janes, Indonesia has secured a 1.25 billion US dollar funding from several European financial institutions for the acquisition of two PPAs. The Indonesian government also planned to named the two vessels as KRI Brawijaya (320) and KRI Prabu Siliwangi (321).[42]
References
^"Home Page". fincantieri.it. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
^Parapetto, Marco (6 June 2016). "I nuovi programmi della Marina Militare"(PDF). Stato Maggiore Marina (in Italian). Napless Shipping Week. p. 33. Retrieved 9 October 2018.