Italy Seeks Forward Movement on the Sale of Two ITS Morosini Ships with Indonesia

The government of Italy has taken up the issue of the sale of two ITS Morosini ships with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD).

The pitch was made when the Deputy Secretary General of Defense of Italy, Vice Admiral (VADM) Pier Federico Bisconti visited Jakarta on November 10.

VADM Bisconti visited to meet with the Secretary General of the Indonesian MoD, Marshal TNI Donny Ermawan Taufanto to discuss bilateral defense cooperation between Indonesia and Italy. As part of the discussions he brought up the topic of the Indonesian MoD's future plans with the Italian defense industry regarding the purchase of 2 ITS Morosini ships.

In response to this, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense said that will immediately report to the Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto regarding this matter and will consider it with the parties involved in the field of Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) MoU procurement/procurement of Alutsista, a statement from the Indonesian MoD said.

The two ships are part of an eight ship deal which Jakarta had signed with Fincantieri in June 2021,  6 FREMM class frigates besides the modernization and sale of 2 Maestrale class frigates (known as ITS Morosini in the Italian Navy).

The modernization of the two Maestrale class vessels (ITS Morosini), which Fincantieri will acquire from the Italian Navy once decommissioned, will be carried out in Italy.

The eight ship deal has not made progress since when the contract was signed in 2021, Shephard Media had reported quoting a representative of Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri in May this year.