Indonesia approves proposal to procure ex-South Korean corvettes

by Ridzwan Rahmat

The Peruvian Navy Pohang-class corvette BAP Guise (CC-28). The vessel was previously in service with the Republic of Korea Navy. Indonesia is hoping to receive similar vessels from South Korea and has proposed to take on foreign loans to fund the possible acquisition. (US Coast Guard)

In an apparent about-turn, the Indonesian Ministry of Finance (MoF) has approved a previously rejected proposal for the country to purchase ex-Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) Pohang-class corvettes with foreign-sourced loans.

The approval was confirmed in a notice issued by the MoF to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) on 7 December. A copy of the notice was provided to Janes by a source close to the matter in late January 2023.

Janes first reported in October 2022 that the MoD had requested to procure at least one ex-RoKN Pohang-class corvette as a stopgap measure for the Indonesian Navy. The ministry had also proposed that the procurement be financed with funds from a foreign lender. This proposal was rejected by the MoF then, but no reasons were given.


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Romania acquires two ex-Royal Navy Sandown-class minehunters

by Kate Tringham

The Royal Navy's former Sandown-class minehunter, ex-HMS Blyth, is pictured during its decommissioning ceremony on 4 August 2021. The vessel was transferred to the Romanian Navy in September 2023. (Crown Copyright)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sold two second-hand Royal Navy (RN) Sandown-class minehunters to the Romanian Navy to support maritime security operations in the Black Sea region.

In a 28 September announcement, the MoD confirmed the sale of ex-HMS Blyth , which was decommissioned from RN service in 2021, and HMS Pembroke , which will be retired from service in early 2024.

Ex- Blyth was officially transferred to the Romanian Navy during September, while Pembroke will be transferred in the second quarter of 2024, the MoD said.

The Romanian parliament approved a programme to procure and modernise two second-hand Sandown-class minehunters from the UK on 18 May. Blyth and Pembroke were subsequently sold on behalf of the MoD by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA), part of the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support organisation, for an undisclosed amount.


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Greece approves new procurements

by Euthymius Petrou

Greece is to start negotiations to purchase at least two Heron high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems. (IAI)

The joint chiefs of the Hellenic National Defence Forces General Staff decided on 25 September to increase the number of Greek military personnel to be assigned to missions abroad under either NATO or European Union (EU) command by up to 20%. The three armed services will now issue specific proposals on units assigned to missions abroad.

The joint chiefs also discussed armament programmes included in the armed forces' medium-term upgrade and modernisation plan. They approved the purchase of more fast-attack craft (FAC) armed with missiles. The Hellenic Navy (HN) has seven Roussen-class (Super Vita) FAC armed with Exocet missiles, and nine older Combattante IIIA- and Combattante IIIB-class ships are to be replaced in the next few years.

It was also decided that the Etna-class general support ship, HS Prometheus , would be converted into a command-and-control (C2) ship at yet-to-be decided Greek shipyards.


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US looking to create single naval approach for Arctic operations

by Michael Fabey

US Coast Guard Cutter Forward (WMEC 911) steams near an iceberg in the Atlantic in support of ‘Operation NANOOK'. (US Coast Guard)

Having been successful in blurring the lines of US naval command responsibilities for Atlantic Ocean theatres, the US Navy (USN) is looking to create a similar single approach for ensuring US interests and national security in Arctic regions, according to Admiral Daryl Caudle, US commander of Fleet Forces Command, Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH), Naval Forces Strategic Command, and Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Commander.

When Adm Caudle took over as commander of these naval components in December 2021, he set out to erase the line dividing areas of responsibility for the Atlantic.

“One of the challenges is that in the middle of the Atlantic, you have NORTHCOM [Northern Command] on one side [and] EUCOM [European Command] on the other side,” Adm Caudle told Janes on 25 September in an interview at US Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.

“We've been able to dissolve that,” he said, noting increased co-ordination, collaboration, and seamless sharing of resources by the different combatant commanders.


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https://www.janes.com/defence-news/naval-weapons/latest/indonesia-approves-proposal-to-procure-ex-south-korean-corvettes

In an apparent about-turn, the Indonesian Ministry of Finance (MoF) has approved a previously reject...

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