A ship spotter photograph circulating on social media shows ASELSAN’s new CENK 350-N fixed-face AESA radar being fitted on Indonesia’s first Merah Putih-class frigate, currently under construction at PT Pal. The integration marks a notable development in the program, which Naval News first reported during the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition in Jakarta in May 2025.
The picture was shared by Indonesian blog account Lembaga Keris, which shows the first-in-class ship Merah Putih under construction. The picture shows two arrays from the CENK 350-N fixed-face Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar clearly visible.
Reported first by Naval News at Indo Defence 2025 exhibition held in Jakarta in May 2025, CENK 350-N radar, which is also called Mete Han, will be the primary air surveillance radar of the upcoming Merah Putih-class frigates.
Aselsan reportedly provides a comprehensive sensor suite to the Merah Putih frigates. This includes the Mete Han multifunction radar (also known as CENK-350), the CENK-200 (also referred to as MAR-D) radar for helicopter control, and the CENK-400 AESA surveillance radar, currently operational aboard Türkiye’s I-class frigates. These systems form the core of the ships’ situational awareness and air surveillance capability.
About CENK 350-N radar system
ASELSAN’s CENK 350-N—essentially a lighter, more compact derivative of the ÇAFRAD system intended for the Turkish Navy’s future TF-2000 air-defence destroyers—represents the newest generation of fixed-face naval AESA radars. The system is built around four X-band active arrays that together provide seamless 360-degree coverage without the constraints of a mechanically rotating antenna. Each panel delivers wide azimuth and elevation coverage, enabling the radar to detect, track, and classify a large number of air and surface targets with high refresh rates. With an instrumented range of around 250 km and the capability to support mid-course guidance for air-defence missiles, CENK 350-N is well-suited for modern frigates and corvettes that require advanced sensing performance in a space-efficient package.
A defining strength of the CENK 350-N is its capacity to maintain uninterrupted situational awareness across all sectors, even in cluttered littoral waters or challenging weather conditions. Its fixed-face architecture allows it to monitor complex, multi-domain target sets—from low-flying aircraft and sea-skimming missiles to small surface contacts—while offering the inherent reliability and reduced maintenance demands of AESA technology. This combination of capability, integration flexibility, and constant all-aspect coverage makes the CENK 350-N a compelling solution for navies looking to modernize their combat management suites, particularly on platforms where space, weight, and power constraints must be carefully balanced.
In addition, Aselsan will supply data link and IFF systems, the AKREP-200 fire control system for the Atmaca anti-ship missile, and the FERSAH hull-mounted sonar for underwater surveillance. Company representatives confirmed that three contracts related to these systems have been signed to date. Delivery of all components is planned within a 36-month timeframe.
Additionally, other Turkish defence companies, HAVELSAN and ROKETSAN, will also provide critical systems to these frigates. Havelsan will act as the primary systems integrator, with its ADVENT Combat Management System (CMS) to be installed on the Merah Putih-class frigates. ADVENT has already been adopted more broadly by the Indonesian Navy, which intends to upgrade over 40 ships with the system. As a result, Indonesia is expected to significantly expand its network-centric warfare capabilities.
Installation of ADVENT on the Merah Putih frigates marks a milestone for Havelsan, as it will be the first time the system is integrated into a British-designed hull.
Roketsan will equip the frigates with its MIDLAS vertical launching system, which will host the ATMACA anti-ship missile as the platform’s primary surface strike weapon. The Merah Putih class will be the first platform to launch ATMACA missiles from MIDLAS, making Indonesia the launch customer for this integrated capability.
Check out our interview with PT Pal on the Merah Putih frigate programme:
