Indonesia to implement Arrowhead 140 design on Iver Huitfeldt-variant contract

PT PAL is implementing the Arrowhead 140 design on a two-ship contract it signed with the Indonesian MoD in April 2020. (Babcock)

Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL will implement the Arrowhead 140 design on a contract it secured from Jakarta in April 2020 for two Iver Huitfeldt class-variant frigates.

In response to questions from Janes, PT PAL's public affairs office confirmed that the two-ship contract worth USD720 million is officially in force, and work is under way in Surabaya, Indonesia, to prepare for the first build.

However, Janes also understands from a separate industry source that discussions are still ongoing between PT PAL and Babcock on design modifications that will be undertaken to meet the Indonesian Navy's requirements.

As reported by Janes in June 2020, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a preamble contract for a variant of the Iver Huitfeldt frigate with PT PAL in April 2020. However, the two-ship contract only became effective from 24 May 2021, PT PAL told Janes on 5 October.

The Arrowhead 140 is based on the Royal Danish Navy's Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate that was designed by Odense Maritime Technology . The Arrowhead 140 design also forms the basis for the UK Royal Navy's new Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates, the contract for which was signed in September 2019.

Incidentally, the Arrowhead140 is also one of four designs shortlisted by Indonesia for another six-ship frigate programme. Jakarta has since selected the Bergamini (FREMM)-class design for this project.

Subsequently in September 2021, UK defence group Babcock signed a design licence agreement with PT PAL at the DSEI exhibition in London. The agreement provides for the build of two Arrowhead 140 frigates at PT PAL's facilities in Surabaya.