Indonesian Shipyard Launches Frigate
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
The first of two SIGMA 10514 Perusak Kawal Rudal (PKR) guided-missile frigates under construction for the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has been launched by PT PAL’s Surabaya Shipyard.
The SIGMA 10514 Perusak Kawal Rudal, built in collaboration with Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS), is nearly 345 feet long and displaces 2,365 tons. It is of a modular design - four built in PT PAL's shipyards and two built by DSNS in the Netherlands.
The ship will be operated by the Indonesian Navy for anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, and anti-submarine warfare. They are also suitable for maritime security, search-and-rescue, patrol, and humanitarian support missions.
The vessel has a speed of 28 knots and can sail up to 5,000 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots.
PAL president director Firmansyah Arifin said: "The launching of the first PKR went very smoothly. We are confident that the installation of the remaining technical parts of the vessel will be carried out in due time, so that the delivery phase can be achieved on or ahead of schedule."
The frigate project was launched in August 2010 by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, which awarded a contract to Damen in December that year to manufacture the first Sigma 10514 PKR.