VESSEL REVIEW | Bung Karno – Indonesian Navy corvette to also serve as presidential yacht

The Indonesian Navy recently placed a new locally-built guided missile frigate into service.

Built by state-owned shipyard Karimun Anugrah Sejati, the vessel has been christened KRI Bung Karno ("Brother Karno") in honour of Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia. The name chosen is appropriate, for the corvette will also perform the role of a presidential yacht when not utilised for maritime security missions.

Bung Karno has a steel hull, a length of 73 metres, a beam of 12 metres, a displacement of 650 tonnes, and accommodations for 55 crewmembers. Two diesel engines will deliver a maximum speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots.

The vessel's armament presently includes a BAE Systems Bofors 40mm naval gun and two Yugoimport 20mm autocannons, though an additional Leonardo 40mm gun, torpedoes, and twin launchers for up to four MBDA Mistral surface-to-air missiles will be fitted in the future. The flight deck and hangar can meanwhile accommodate an AS565 helicopter that can augment the corvette's anti-submarine warfare capability.

Also installed are an active stabiliser and ballistic protection panels. Starboard side deck space is meanwhile available for a small tender.

Bung Karno replaces the older KRI Barakuda, which served for over 27 years in the presidential transport role and is now being refitted for patrol duties. The newer vessel will also be equipped to operate as a command and control ship during disaster response operations.

Bung Karno is also the first ship of a new class of corvette. Indonesian Navy officials recently confirmed that a sister ship possessing the same general layout and armament but with a slightly longer hull will be completed and delivered in 2024.

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