Jakarta, EDITOR.ID, – The rivalry and prestige battle between Indonesia and Malaysia in building the strength of their naval fleet is increasingly fierce. Arms Race here we go, this provocative slogan seems to have been conveyed by Indonesia after it was ready to buy the Italian Navy’s most modern corvette, the Paolo Thaon Di Revel class.
Regarding the purchase of these sophisticated warships, an agreement between Indonesia and Italy just needs to be signed. So the Indonesian Navy is one step closer to having additional naval combat power with the presence of two Paolo Thaon Di Revel class corvettes this year.
These two modern and sophisticated warships will make the Indonesian Navy even more feared by the world, especially the Asean region.
Indonesia doesn’t have to wait long because the two Paolo Thaon Di Revel class corvettes are ready stock, just send them.
Honestly, in the entire ASEAN region and even Asia, the Paolo Thaon Di Revel class corvette is the most advanced. He was able to boost the prestige and fighting power of the Indonesian Navy fleet in the eyes of other countries.
Because the Paolo Thaon corvette is also a premium warship on the European continent, it is only natural that it is labeled that way in Asia.
Seeing that Indonesia is able to buy premium corvettes makes Malaysia jealous and hot. Not wanting to be outdone by the Indonesian Navy, the Malaysian Navy immediately prepared a budget for a program called Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) as the main source for procuring coastal combat ships.
LMS Batch I is filled with Chinese-made coastal warships whose capabilities are far below expectations.
LMS Batch I did not increase the combat capability of the Malaysian TLDM fleet at all because the ships were not equipped with missiles. This warship is only equipped with a 12.7 mm light machine gun.
To increase the combat capability of its fleet, Malaysia is eyeing the MiLGEM Project corvettes made by STM Türkiye.
“This was done with a company related to the Turkish Government through direct negotiations, namely Savunma Teknolojieri Muhendislik (STM),” explained Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, quoted from Air Times on March 16 2024.
Indonesia Needs New Corvettes Immediately, Italy Ready to Send Paolo Thaon in Revel Class Now Without Waiting 2024
Hasan ordered his staff to immediately issue a Letter of Intent (LoI) so that negotiations between Malaysia and Turkey could be carried out immediately. Including discussing the future of warship designs desired by the Malaysian Armed Forces.
