PT PAL and Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) press releases translated and summarized by Naval News.
The ceremony was held at the company’s submarine production facility and was attended by officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and Navy (TNI AL).
The keel laying complies with SOLAS regulations, which require the assembled block to weigh at least 50 tons or 1% of the frigate’s total construction weight. The keel laying marked a “positive” or quicker-than-planned progress, as it was initially scheduled for March 2025.
This second Red White-class frigate (construction number W000305) will be 140 meters long, 19.75 meters wide, and have a top speed of 28 knots. The ship will feature an integrated combat management system with various weapons, sensors, and communication equipment, enabling it to conduct surface, air, submarine, and electronic warfare missions.
The frigate’s construction aims to meet TNI AL modernization requirements and build a strong, independent, and globally competitive domestic defense industry.
Naval News Comments
The first steel-cutting for this second frigate was held on June 5, 2024. Notably, the design presented during the keel laying differs from the initial concept seen in official illustrations at previous ceremony. The most significant change is the main mast, which now features a radar system resembling the ÇAFRAD by Turkish company Aselsan.
The Red White frigates are part of Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to modernise its navy (TNI AL) as well as enhance the capabilities of its domestic defence industry so that it could build larger and more complex surface combatants. The vessels are based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design.
