Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced during the 2025 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition that it had entered a technical collaboration agreement with Malaysian firm Enra Energy Solutions to jointly market Fincantieri ships for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s ongoing modernization.

Enra Energy Solutions is a Malaysian company providing maritime maintenance, repair and overhaul services, with an Enra representative saying the agreement would serve as a basis for localized maintenance and technology transfer should Fincantieri’s offerings be selected by the Royal Malaysian Navy.

The 21 May signing of the agreement took place in the presence of the Malaysian Minister of Defence, H.E. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, and the Italian Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Defence, Hon. Matteo Perego di Cremnago, and was formalized by Biagio Mazzotta, Chairman of Fincantieri, and Ikhlas Zainal, Chief Executive Officer of Enra Energy Solutions.

“Southeast Asia represents a key geography for the future of the maritime defence industry. Our collaboration with Enra Energy Solutions in Malaysia is a concrete step in building a robust industrial partnership that combines global experience with local excellence. We are proud to contribute to the Royal Malaysian Navy’s strategic vision and to support the development of a resilient local defence ecosystem.”

Biagio Mazzotta, Chairman of Fincantieri

A Fincantieri representative at the company’s booth said its current focus for the Royal Malaysian Navy was on the Littoral Mission Batch 3 program and the Multi-Role Support Ship.

For Littoral Mission Ship Batch 3, Fincanteri is offering its FCX20 design, with the design already selected for the Italian Navy‘s new OPV program (previously known as PPX).

Fincantieri is offering its Kalaat Beni-Abbes amphibious landing ship design for Multi-Role Support Ship, with the representative stressing that Fincantieri was open to adapting both products for the requirements of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Both the Littoral Mission Ship Batch 3 and Multi-Role Support Ship programs are expected to be funded in the 13th Malaysian Plan, which will run from 2026 to 2030. Under the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 15 to 5 Revisited modernization plan unveiled at Defense Services Asia 2024, 3 additional Littoral Mission Ships and 2 Multi-Role Support Ships will be procured during the 2026-2030 period.

When asked about other regional prospects, the Fincantieri representative said the company was hoping to participate in other Indonesian projects following the Indonesian Navy’s purchase of two Thaon di-Revel-class offshore patrol vessels, as well as the Philippine Navy’s procurement projects under the Re-Horizon 3 modernization plan for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Italian shipyard Fincantieri has signed a technical collaboration agreement (TCA) with Enra Energy Solutions (EES), a leading Malaysian diesel engine maintenance, repair and overhauling (MRO) company, to support the Royal Malaysian Navy’s ‘15 to 5’ strategic fleet renewal programme.

The TCA was signed on 21 May 2025 at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition by Biagio Mazzotta, chairman of Fincantieri, and Ikhlas Zainal, CEO of EES, in the presence of the Malaysian defence minister, H E Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, and the Italian undersecretary of state to the Ministry of Defence, Matteo Perego di Cremnago.

“The initiative marks a key step in enhancing Malaysia’s naval capabilities while fostering significant national industrial participation,” Fincantieri stated in a press release.

The agreement paves the way for a partnership focused on delivering and supporting next-generation naval vessels in the Royal Malaysian Navy, including Multi Role Support Ships (MRSSs) and Littoral Mission Ship Batch 3 vessels. These platforms are designed to improve operational readiness and resilience amid an evolving regional security landscape.

Fincantieri is among three major shipbuilders that have emerged as likely frontrunners in the future Malaysian MRSS programme, the others being Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea and PT PAL of Indonesia.

In 2024 Malaysia chose Turkey’s STM to build the Royal Malaysian Navy’s three Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 vessels, but Fincantieri is still vying for the follow-on Batch 3 programme.

On the signing of the TCA, Mazzotta stated, “Southeast Asia represents a key geography for the future of the maritime defence industry. Our collaboration with Enra Energy Solutions in Malaysia is a concrete step in building a robust industrial partnership that combines global experience with local excellence. We are proud to contribute to the Royal Malaysian Navy’s strategic vision and to support the development of a resilient local defence ecosystem.”