According to information released on June 10, 2021, Italian company Fincantieri, one of the most important shipbuilding groups in the world, and the Ministry of Defense of Indonesia have signed a contract for the supply of 6 FREMM class frigates, the modernization and sale of 2 Maestrale class frigates, and the related logistical support. There may be a collaboration between PT-PAL Shipyard in Java Island and Fincantieri.
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Italian Navy FREMM-class frigate Carlo Bergamini F590. (Picture source Wikimedia)
The order represents a success for Fincantieri and for the Country, which has a fleet of 10 FREMM ships. The agreement is of the utmost importance to strengthen the collaboration between two Countries in a strategic area of the Pacific.
Fincantieri will be prime contractor for the entire program. The construction of the frigates will ensure significant employment benefits not only for several Italian shipyards of the Group in the next years, but also for other companies in the sector, namely Leonardo, as well as numerous small and medium-sized national companies, and will see the collaboration of the local PT-PAL shipyard (Java island). The modernization of the two Maestrale class vessels, which Fincantieri will acquire from the Italian Navy once decommissioned, will also be carried out in Italy.
The FREMM Program is an European naval defence project that was assigned to OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement / Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation)in 2005. A total of 27 FREMM were to be constructed (17 for France and 10 for Italy). The first FREMM was delivered in 2012 and the objective of contractual delivery is 2022 for the whole frigates.
The FREMM program is a joint Italian-French Defense industrial co-operation project for a new generation of frigates, having a common baseline, but differing from one country to the other as a function of different operational requirements. The frigates for the Italian Navy are built at the Fincantieri’s integrated naval shipyard of Riva Trigoso-Muggiano. The ship is built in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASM/ASW), Anti-Air Warfare (FREDA) and General Purpose (GP) versions.
The Italian FREMM has a full load displacement of about 6,500 tons, an overall length of about 144 m, a beam of 19.7 m, and a draught of 8.7 m. The ship is powered by Combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLAG) propusion system including one 32 MW gas turbine General Electric/Avio LM2500+G4, two 2.5 MW electric motors Jeumont Electric and four diesel generators. she can reach a top speed exceeding 30 knots (56 km/h). Vessels’ endurance is up to 45 continuous days, while the range of the ship is 6,800 nautical miles at 15 knots (28 km/h).
Italian Navy frigate ITS Maestrale F570.(Picture source U.S. Navy)
The Maestrale is a class of frigate built for the Italian Navy and designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), however the ships are highly flexible so they are also capable of anti-air and anti-surface operations.
The Maestrale frigate has a large superstructure, with one large turret and only one funnel. There are two enclosed pyramid masts, one of which is quite low, the other much taller. The ship is powered by a Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system.
The Maestrale frigate is armed with four TESEO Mk-2 anti-ship missiles, double launchers, one Albatross octuple Aspide SAM launchers, one Otobreda 127 mm/54 naval gun, two Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), two Browning HB2B 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, two MG 42/59 7.62 mm machine guns, two 533 mm torpedo tubes and two 324 mm triple torpedo tubes.
