On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense announced on social media that the MPCS/PPA-class missile frigate KRI Prabu Siliwangi (321) has arrived at the port of Jakarta, joining its sister ship KRI Brawijaya (320), both acquired from Italy on March 28, 2024.
Photos: Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense
After a 44-day voyage from La Spezia, Italy, and arrival in the country, a welcoming ceremony for the ship’s crew was held at Pier 107 of Tanjung Priok port in northern Jakarta. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defense, led by Secretary General Lt. Gen. Tri Budi Utomo, and was presided over by the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Gen. Agus Subiyanto, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut, TNI-AL), Adm. Dr. Muhammad Ali. The vessel formally entered service on December 22, 2025. It is worth recalling that the first ship was formally handed over in Italy on July 2, 2025, after which it sailed to Indonesia. The naming ceremony for both vessels took place on January 29, 2025, in Muggiano.
It should be recalled that the frigates were originally built as hulls No. 4 and 5 for Italy (out of seven ordered under the Thaon di Revel class), namely Marcantonio Colonna (P 433) and Ruggiero di Lauria (P 435), launched on November 26, 2022, and October 10, 2023, respectively (to replace them, the authorities in Rome ordered two new ships, with steel cutting for the first taking place on February 6 this year).
The vessels are expected to play an important role in Indonesia’s security system, carrying out combat, patrol, rescue, and civil protection missions. They were acquired for the equivalent of 1.18 billion EUR. The purchase decision was preceded by a port visit to Indonesia in July 2023 by Francesco Morosini (P 431), the second PPA-class vessel in the Light configuration. Fincantieri and the Leonardo group carried out work to adapt the ships’ combat systems to Indonesian requirements and to provide related logistical support.
They will be complemented by four Balaputradewa-class frigates under the program codenamed Fregat Merah Putih (Red-and-White Frigates), built under license based on the British Arrowhead 140 design (the first two are under construction, with additional units planned). They are being built at the PAL Indonesia shipyard in Surabaya. The first, KRI Balaputradewa (322), was launched on October 27, 2025, while the keel for the second was laid on November 15, 2024. Deliveries of the first pair are scheduled for 2028–2029.
MPCS/PPA
The 143-meter vessels in the Full configuration have a displacement of 6,270 tons, while the Light+ configuration displaces 5,880 tons. The CODAGOL (Combined Diesel And Gas Or eLectric) propulsion system consists of one General Electric/Avio LM2500+G4 gas turbine rated at 32,000 kW (43,000 hp), two MTU 20V 8000 M91L diesel engines rated at 10,000 kW (13,000 hp) each, two MAN GenSets 12V175D-MEM diesel generators rated at 1,640 kW (2,200 hp) each, two backup Isotta Fraschini 16V170C2ME diesel generators, two electric motors rated at 1,350 kW each, and one bow thruster rated at 550 kW (740 hp). Power transmitted to two shafts and propellers provides a maximum speed of 31.6 knots and a range of 5,500 nautical miles. The crew consists of 171 officers and sailors, with accommodation for an additional 30 personnel. The ships are capable of carrying one AW101 helicopter or two SH90 (NH90).
Depending on the configuration, thanks to their modular design, the ships are either equipped with or prepared for the installation of various types of armament, including SYLVER family vertical launch systems for Aster 15 and Aster 30 Block 1NT surface-to-air and anti-missile missiles, as well as MdCN cruise missiles, along with TESEO/Otomat Mk2 anti-ship missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. All are also armed with 127 mm/64 OTO Melara Vulcano and 76 mm/62 OTO Melara Strales naval guns, as well as 25 mm/80 automatic cannons, 12.7 mm machine guns, and non-lethal acoustic weapons. The Light+ variant is equipped with C-band air surveillance radars, while the Full variant features both C- and X-band radars, including the SPS-732 (RAN 30X/I).
Kedatangan KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321 di Jakarta disambut melalui upacara di Dermaga 107 Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, pada Kamis (26/3). Sekjen Kemhan Letjen TNI Tri Budi Utomo turut hadir, sementara upacara dipimpin Panglima TNI Jenderal TNI Agus Subiyanto. pic.twitter.com/5GYz21AphY
— Kemhan RI (@Kemhan_RI) March 26, 2026
Setelah menempuh pelayaran 44 hari dari La Spezia, Italia, kapal sepanjang lebih dari 140 meter ini dilengkapi teknologi Naval Cockpit dan meriam 127 mm Vulcano. pic.twitter.com/aJuGhB1SbN
— Kemhan RI (@Kemhan_RI) March 26, 2026
Selain fungsi tempur, kapal ini juga dirancang untuk mendukung misi kemanusiaan dan pencarian serta pertolongan (SAR).#KASAL #SekjenKemhan #KemhanRI #TNIAL #KRIPrabuSiliwangi321 pic.twitter.com/p6G86KrWYn
— Kemhan RI (@Kemhan_RI) March 26, 2026
