Former Italian PPA Frigate Deployed for Exercises in Indonesia

The frigate KRI Prabu Siliwangi, which was originally built for the Italian Navy, has been deployed to participate in large-scale naval exercises in the Riau Islands province.

This was reported by OSINT analyst JATOSINT, citing the 2nd Fleet Command of the Indonesian Navy.

The ship set sail for the exercise area from its homeport in Surabaya, located in eastern Java. An RM-70 multiple launch rocket system was additionally deployed on its helicopter deck.

This frigate joined the Indonesian Navy as part of a contract with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a €1.18 billion agreement to purchase two Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA)-class combat ships.

The vessel was originally laid down for the Italian Navy under the name Ruggiero di Lauria. Construction began in April 2021 at Muggiano Shipyard, and the ship was launched in October 2023.

Between 2024 and 2025, the Italian side refitted and tested the ship to meet the new customer’s requirements. The handover to Indonesia and the official commissioning took place in late December 2025 under the name KRI Prabu Siliwangi.

In February 2026, the frigate departed from La Spezia Naval Base and undertook a 44-day voyage to Indonesia, circumnavigating Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. At the end of March, the ship arrived at the Port of Tanjung Priok in Jakarta to participate in a ceremonial welcome.

The PPA-class frigate is 143 meters long, 16.5 meters wide, and has a full load displacement of over 6,200 metric tons. Its CODAG (combined diesel and gas turbine) propulsion system allows the ship to reach a maximum speed of over 27 knots and provides a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles.

The core of its artillery armament consists of a 127 mm Oto Melara Vulcano gun and a 76 mm anti-aircraft gun, as well as vertical launch systems for missiles. For target detection and fire control, the ship is equipped with the SADOC Mk4 digital combat management system and AESA radar stations.

Currently, the frigate is part of the escort squadron of the Indonesian 2nd Fleet Command in Surabaya. In the future, the command plans to modernize both acquired PPA-class ships to full combat configuration, with the option to install Aster 30 anti-aircraft missile systems.

Main technical specifications of the PPA:

• Displacement: 6,200 metric tons
• Length: 143 meters
• Width: 16.5 meters
• Maximum speed: 27 knots
• Crew: 173

Armament:

• 1 × 127 mm Oto Melara Vulcano gun
• 1 × 76 mm Oto Melara gun
• 2 × 25 mm Oerlikon KBA B06 guns
• 8 × Otomat anti-ship missiles
• 533 mm torpedoes
• 324 mm torpedoes
• 4 × 323 mm Mk.46 Mod.5 torpedoes

Air wing: 1 × SH90 or AW101 helicopter