According to a PR published by Babcock on August 25, 2023, the keel laying ceremony for the first of two new frigates took place recently at PT PAL in Surabaya, Indonesia. These vessels, based on Babcock's Arrowhead 140 design, are locally recognized as the "Red White Frigate" or "Fregat Merah Putih".
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Keel laying ceremony for the first Indonesian Arrowhead 140 frigate. (Picture source: Babcock)
The backdrop to this momentous occasion can be traced back to 16 September 2021. It was then that Babcock announced its collaboration with PT PAL Indonesia, signing an agreement that granted PT PAL the rights to design two Type 31 derivatives for the Indonesian Navy. This partnership aimed to bring to life the vessels now locally recognized as the "Red White Frigate".
Further emphasizing the rapid progress of this initiative, the first steel for the inaugural "Red White Frigate" was cut on 9 December 2022.
About the British Arrowhead 140 frigates
The Arrowhead 140 frigate has a displacement of 5,700 t (5,600 long tons) and measures 138.7 m in length (455 ft 1 in). Its power is sourced from either four Rolls Royce/MTU 20V 8000 M71 diesel engines producing 8.2 MW each or four Caterpillar 3512C generators producing 1360 kW each.
Additional generator options include four Rolls Royce/MTU 16V 2000 M41B, each generating 900 kW. The ship employs a CODAD propulsion system, with a MAN Alpha VBS Mk 5 CP propeller and two shafts, allowing it to achieve speeds in excess of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) and an endurance of 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi). The complement typically ranges from 80 to 100, but it has accommodations for up to 160 personnel.
For operational efficiency, the Arrowhead 140 uses the TACTICOS combat management system and Thales NS110 3D radar. Navigation is facilitated by the Raytheon Warship Integrated Navigation and Bridge System, Terma Scanter, and Raytheon NSX navigation radars. The ship also employs two Mirador Mk2 EOS and has Viasat Ultrahigh-frequency satellite communications capabilities.
