Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PAL recently held a steel-cutting ceremony to mark the official start of construction of a new frigate ordered by the Indonesian Navy. The vessel will be a variant of the Type 31 or Inspiration-class that is being built for the UK Royal Navy by defence technology firm the Babcock International Group.
PAL Indonesia COO Iqbal Fikri said that the frigate will comply with Lloyd's Register's naval rules and that it will be the largest surface warship to be built in Indonesia. Upon completion, the vessel will have a length of 138.7 metres, a displacement of 5,700 tonnes, and a diesel propulsion system that will deliver speeds of up to 28 knots.
The frigate is the second and final vessel in the Fregat Merah Putih ("Red and White Frigate") class, as the frigates will be known in Indonesian Navy service. Their armament will include anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, a 57mm naval gun, two 40mm naval guns, and 12.7mm machine guns.