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| Foto:Kapal Prigate Indonesia |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,The construction and outfitting process of the Indonesian Navy's future flagship frigate, the first of the Arrowhead-140/Red-White (Merah Putih) class, is progressing steadily. New photographs reveal the vessel's rapidly evolving profile at the PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya.
Based on the British BAE Systems/Babcock Arrowhead-140 design, the frigate represents a significant leap in Indonesia's naval capabilities and a landmark achievement in strategic defense cooperation with Türkiye. The vessel measures approximately 140 meters in length, with a displacement of around 6,000 tons, placing it among the largest and most potent surface combatants in the region.
The most striking feature in recent imagery is the complete installation of the missile launch systems. The frigate has been outfitted with 64 cells of the Roketsan MIDLAS (Milli Dikey Atım Sistemi) Vertical Launching System (VLS). This indigenous Turkish system will provide formidable firepower, with plans to equip it with a mix of:
· Roketsan HISAR family of surface-to-air missiles for regional air defense.
· Roketsan SİPER long-range air defense missiles.
· Roketsan ATMACA anti-ship cruise missiles, enhancing the vessel's potent anti-surface warfare (ASuW) strike capability.
Beyond the missile systems,the frigate will be integrated with a comprehensive array of Turkish-made sensors and combat management systems, forming a cohesive "Turkish Mission Suite":
Radar: The primary sensor will be the ASELSAN ÇENK-400 AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) 3D search radar, providing superior air and surface detection and tracking capabilities. This will be supplemented by other Turkish radar systems.
Sonar: Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability will be bolstered by the ASELSAN FERSAH hull-mounted sonar system.
Combat Management System (CMS): The nerve center of the warship will be the HAVELSAN ADVENT combat management system, integrating all sensors and weapon systems for unified tactical command and control.
This project,part of Indonesia's "Minimum Essential Force" (MEF) modernization plan, underscores a strategic shift towards diversifying defense procurement and fostering technological partnerships. The integration of a complete, sophisticated combat suite from Türkiye onto a British-designed hull platform demonstrates Indonesia's commitment to creating a highly capable, customized warship.
The Arrowhead-140/Red-White class frigate is poised to become the cornerstone of the Indonesian Navy's (TNI-AL) future fleet. Once commissioned, it will significantly enhance the country's blue-water operational capability, providing robust air defense, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare coverage for strategic sea lanes and maritime interests.
Outfitting and harbor acceptance tests are expected to continue throughout 2024, with sea trials likely to follow as the vessel moves closer to its delivery milestone.