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strong>Jan. 18, 2016

State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia launched two warships on Monday, one of which will be the first naval vessel exported by the domestic ship-building industry.

The two ships launched in Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, East Java, were Missile Destroyer (PKR)-1 and Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV)-1.

PT PAL president director M. Firmansyah said the PKR-1 was ordered by Indonesia'€™s Defense Ministry while the SSV-1 was ordered by the Philippines'€™ Defense Ministry. The firm secured the order worth US$90 million from the Philippine government for the construction of two SSVs after winning an international tender process.

Your comments:

Would it not be better for Indonesia to '€œupdate'€ its own Navy ships, especially with the perceived threats on its borders?

Angela007

It'€™s good to see government money put to good use for once. It'€™s not like they could spend the money elsewhere, right? Like the chances of anyone invading Indonesia are highly likely, yes, and momentously worthwhile.

Bilbobagginz

Wow, the PKR-1 is a missile destroyer? I thought it'€™s just one more frigate because the government will buy more PKR warships, approximately 20 ships for the Indonesian Navy. Last year our government also decided to buy a squadron of Su-35 fighter jets. What good news for Indonesian people!

Anak Rantau

Perhaps they can fill it up with batik, reject clothes from Bandung, crappy teak furniture and plastic Hello Kitty junk.

Bayview

So, the Philippine Defense Ministry bought two SSVs before they'€™ve even passed sea-trials for US$90 million, or have I got this wrong?

I found this article confusing. At least the SSV-1 will be named the '€œTarlac'€.

Johnny Cool

Yes, they bought unseen, untested and unwarranted boats from a company that has never built them before and is running at such a massive loss the state keeps injecting trillions just to pay its bills.

And best of all we are bragging about it

Not to mention it'€™s actually an old Dutch design.

Mrpig96

On the other hand, it might be a great deal for the Filipinos.

Purchase contracts for sea-going vessels include some of the toughest purchase clauses, such as penalties for late delivery and such.

PT PAL has never delivered any vessel, junk or otherwise, on contractually stipulated time.

YD

Untested? The ship is sister to another four ships of the same class that are currently in service with the Indonesian Navy and, yes, those four ships have done some sailing around the world without problems.

No, it is not Dutch design and it is not old. This ship is based on the Makassar class design, which is based on Daewoo'€™s engineering design. In short, ships of the Makassar class are modified versions of the Korean-designed LPD KRI Soeharso, but PT PAL wanted to be able to export them, so they did some modifications with the Banjarmasin class LPD.

The one being exported to the Philippines is an Indonesian designed ship with some derivations to the original KRI Soeharso version.

Lostbule

At least the Philippines did not name the ship after some terrorists.

Sorong

Sea trial is one of final stages in ship purchase. I take it you don'€™t understand anything about how a large ship is bought:

1. Signing of contract.

2. Production design.

3. Material and equipment purchase.

4. Production plan.

5. Steel cutting.

6. Keel laying, assembly and mounting of ship sections.

7. Launching.

8. Finishing of the vessel.

9. Sea trial.

10. Delivery.

11. Warranty.

If anything happens during the sea trial, the Philippines will not lose anything. The ship will be repaired and reengineered until it is ready to be delivered. It is a standard practice in any shipyard.

LB

Indonesia, the emerging superpower of the free Muslim world, is quickly developing larger warships, submarines and soon its own fighter jet with South Korea. No doubt foreign powers are watching Indonesia with great concern.

Truepat