{{Short description|Frigate class of the Indonesian Navy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image =KRI Balaputradewa (322) launching (2).jpg | image_caption = KRI ''Balaputradewa'' at its launching }} |section2={{Infobox ship/class overview | name = ''Balaputradewa''-class frigate | builders = PT PAL Indonesia | operators = {{naval|Indonesia}} | class_before = {{sclass|Martadinata|frigate}} | class_after = | subclasses = Type 31 frigate | cost = | built_range = 2022–present | in_service_range = | in_commission_range = | total_ships_building = 2 | total_ships_planned = 4 | total_ships_completed = 0 | total_ships_canceled = | total_ships_active = | total_ships_laid_up = | total_ships_lost = | total_ships_retired = | total_ships_preserved = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Frigate | displacement = {{cvt|6626|t|LT}} (full) | length = {{cvt|140|m|ftin}} | beam = {{cvt|19.75|m|ftin}} | height = | draught = | power = | propulsion = CODAD propulsion system | speed = {{convert|28|kn|lk=in}} | range = {{convert|9,000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} | endurance = 21 days | complement = 143 | troops = | boats = | sensors = *'''CMS:''' * Havelsan ADVENT CMS *'''Radar:''' * Aselsan CENK 350-N (Mete Han) multi-function phased array radar * Aselsan CENK 400-N surveillance radar * Aselsan AKR-D fire control radar * Aselsan MAR-D helicopter control radar *'''Sonar:''' * Aselsan FERSAH hull mounted sonar *'''IFF:''' * Leonardo IFF system
| EW = * Elettronica RESM and RECM * Aselsan HIZIR torpedo countermeasures system * 2 × 8 130 mm Aselsan KARTACA-N decoy launcher systems
| armour = | aircraft = * 1 × medium-sized helicopter | aircraft_facilities = helicopter deck and hangar | armament = * 2 × Otomelara 76/62 Super Rapid main guns * 1 × 35 mm Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun CIWS * 2 × 12.7 mm Leonardo Lionfish RCWS * 64 × Roketsan MiDLAS vertical launching system for **HISAR MR and SIPER LR surface-to-air missile **Atmaca anti-ship missiles * 2 x 3 324 mm Leonardo B515/3 torpedo launchers
| notes = Source<ref name="indosteelcut2">{{cite web |last=Malufti |first=Fauzan |date=8 June 2024 |title=Indonesia Cuts Steel for Second Red White Frigate |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/indonesia-cuts-steel-for-second-red-white-frigate/ |access-date=5 November 2024 |website=navalnews.com }}</ref> <ref name = "Navy Lookout"> {{cite web |date=21 January 2026 |title=Indonesia to build a further two Arrowhead 140-derived frigates |url=https://www.navylookout.com/indonesia-to-build-a-further-two-arrowhead-140-derived-frigates/ |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=navalnews.com }}</ref> }} }}
The '''''Balaputradewa''-class frigate''' (previously known as {{lang|id|Fregat Merah Putih}}, {{lit|Red White Frigate}})<ref>{{cite web |editor-first=Erik Purnama |editor-last=Putra |url=https://news.republika.co.id/berita/t7hmw3484/kri-balaputradewa322-diluncurkan-kapal-tempur-multiperan-produksi-pt-pal |title=KRI Balaputradewa-322 Diluncurkan, Kapal Tempur Multiperan Produksi PT PAL |website=Republika.co.id |date=19 December 2025 |access-date=19 December 2025 |language=ID}}</ref> is a class of frigates being built for the Indonesian Navy. Under construction by PAL Indonesia, it is based on the Odense Maritime Technology (OMT) {{sclass|Iver Huitfeldt|frigate|0}} frigate hull and is marketed under the name Arrowhead 140 or Type 31 Frigate.<ref>{{citation |title=One more country is modernizing its naval fleet with Type 31 frigates |url=https://www.navaltoday.com/2022/01/03/one-more-country-is-modernizing-its-naval-fleet-with-type-31-frigates/ |date=3 January 2022 |access-date=12 March 2023 |last=Bahtić |first=F.}}</ref><ref name="selection">{{cite news |last=Tovey |first=Alan |date=30 June 2021 |title=Babcock in talks to sell 'budget frigates' to five countries |website=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/06/30/babcock-talks-sell-budget-battleships-five-countries |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The design was first licensed to Indonesia in September 2021.<ref name="indokeellaying">{{cite web |last=Malufti |first=Fauzan |date=26 August 2023 |title=Indonesia Lays Keel Of First 'Red White' Frigate |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/indonesia-lays-keel-of-first-red-white-frigate/ |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=navalnews.com }}</ref><ref name="indosteelcut">{{cite web |first=Rangga Baswara |last=Sawiyya|date=10 December 2022 |title=Pemotongan baja pertama Kapal Fregat Merah Putih telah dilakukan oleh PT PAL |trans-title=The first steel cutting of the Red White Frigate Ship was carried out by PT PAL |url=https://www.airspace-review.com/2022/12/10/pemotongan-baja-pertama-kapal-fregat-merah-putih-telah-dilakukan-oleh-pt-pal/ |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=Airspace Review |language=id }}</ref>
==History==
Ministry of Defense of Indonesia awarded a contract of two frigates to the local state-owned shipyard PT PAL Indonesia on 30 April 2020. The contract stipulated that the frigates would be constructed within 69 months after contract's entry into force.<ref>{{cite web |first=A Malik |last=Ibrahim |editor-first=Didik |editor-last=Kusbiantoro |url=https://jatim.antaranews.com/berita/527017/pal-kapal-perang-frigate-pesanan-kemenhan-dikerjakan-selama-69-bulan |title=PAL: Kapal perang frigate pesanan Kemenhan dikerjakan selama 69 bulan |website=Antara News |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=27 October 2025 |language=ID}}</ref>
On 16 September 2021, Babcock announced that it had signed an agreement with PT PAL Indonesia for the export of design license for two Arrowhead 140 frigates, allowing PAL Indonesia to design AH140 derivatives for the Indonesian Navy.<ref name="indolicense">{{cite web |date=16 September 2021 |title=Babcock sells first new frigate design licence to Indonesia |url=https://www.babcockinternational.com/news/babcock-sells-first-new-frigate-design-licence-to-indonesia/ |access-date=16 September 2021 |website=Babcock International }}</ref> The class are known locally as ''Fregat Merah Putih'' ("Red-White Frigate").<ref name="indodefence22">{{cite web |date=7 November 2022 |title=Indo Defence 2022: Indonesia prepares to cut steel on first 'Red-White' frigate |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indo-defence-2022-indonesia-prepares-to-cut-steel-on-first-red-white-frigate |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=janes.com}}</ref>
thumb|left|230px|''Balaputradewa'' keel laying ceremony On 9 December 2022, PAL Indonesia held the first steel cut ceremony for the first ''Fregat Merah Putih'' (Red White Frigate) at their shipyard in Surabaya.<ref name="indosteelcut" /> The first frigate was laid down on 25 August 2023.<ref name="indokeellaying" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pusat Kodifikasi Kementerian Pertahanan |url=https://www.kemhan.go.id/puskod/2023/08/25/pembangunan-kapal-frigate-merah-putih-ke-1-di-surabaya.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.kemhan.go.id}}</ref>
The first steel cut of the second Red White frigate was made on 5 June 2024.<ref name="indosteelcut2"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2024/06/05/20353401/indonesia-mulai-bangun-kapal-fregat-merah-putih-unit-kedua |title=Indonesia Mulai Bangun Kapal Fregat Merah Putih Unit Kedua |website=kompas.com |date=5 June 2024 |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=ID}}</ref> The second ship was laid down on 15 November 2024, five months earlier from the planned date of March 2025.<ref name="indokeellaying2">{{cite web |first=Ambrosius Harto |last=Manumoyoso |url=https://www.kompas.id/artikel/indonesia-percepat-produksi-fregat-merah-putih-ke-2 |title=Indonesia Percepat Produksi Fregat Merah Putih Ke-2 |website=kompas.id |date=15 November 2024 |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=ID}}</ref>
In January 2025, the defense minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin targeted that the first ship was to be launched in June 2025, with the second ship launched by late 2025.<ref name="FMPcomplete1">{{cite web |first=Hanif |last=Nashrullah |editor-first=Vicki |editor-last=Febrianto |url=https://jatim.antaranews.com/berita/874034/menhan-targetkan-dua-unit-fregat-merah-putih-beroperasi-akhir-2025 |title=Menhan targetkan dua unit Fregat Merah Putih beroperasi akhir 2025 |website=ANTARAnews.com |date=24 January 2025 |access-date=12 February 2025 |language=ID }}</ref>
During a meeting at the Ministry of Defense on 24 June 2025, it was concluded that the earlier target launch date of June 2025 for the first ship cannot be fulfilled, and was postponed to 27 October 2025. The first ship launch delay would not affect the construction progress for the second ship.<ref name="FMPcomplete3">{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1383936057064933&id=100063456551606 |title=Ditjen Pothan Kemhan Pimpin Rapat Pembahasan Perkembangan Pembangunan Kapal Frigate Merah Putih |work=Ditjen Pothan Kemhan RI (Directorate General of Defense Potential, Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia) |date=24 June 2025 |access-date=25 June 2025 |language=ID }}</ref>
The first ship, named as {{KRI|Balaputradewa}}, was launched on 18 December.<ref name="BPD322launch1">{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/pt-pal-launches-indonesias-first-red-white-frigate|date=2025-12-19|access-date=2025-12-19|title=PT PAL launches Indonesia's first Red White frigate|first=Ridzwan|last=Rahmat|work=Janes}}</ref> At the same time, the construction progress of the second ship has reached 38%.<ref>{{cite web |first=Meilita |last=Elaine |url=https://www.suarasurabaya.net/kelanakota/2025/wamenhan-pimpin-shipnaming-dan-launching-kri-bala-putra-dewa-322-di-surabaya/ |title=Wamenhan Pimpin Shipnaming dan Launching KRI Bala Putra Dewa 322 di Surabaya |website=suarasurabaya.net |date=18 December 2025 |access-date=19 December 2025 |language=ID}}</ref>
During President Prabowo Subianto's visit to the United Kingdom on 21 January 2026, a letter of intent was signed for the sale of licenses for two additional Arrowhead 140 frigates to Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.babcockinternational.com/news/babcock-signs-initial-agreement-under-indonesia-maritime-partnership-programme/ |title=Babcock signs initial agreement under Indonesia Maritime Partnership Programme |website=BabcockInternational.com |date= 21 January 2026 |access-date=21 January 2026}}</ref>
==Armaments and sensors== As part of the main contract, the Red White Frigate is to be armed with one OTO Melara 76 mm, one 35 mm Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun, and two 12.7 mm Leonardo Lionfish RCWS, while the electronics and sensors includes Aselsan Mete Han / CENK-350-N AESA multi-function radar,<ref>{{cite web |first=Tayfun |last=Ozberk |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/12/indonesias-merah-putih-frigate-is-being-fitted-with-new-radar-by-aselsan/ |title=Indonesia’s Merah Putih Frigate is being fitted with new radar by Aselsan |website=navalnews.com |date=4 December 2025 |access-date=19 February 2025 }}</ref> Aselsan MAR-D / CENK-200-N air and surface surveillance and helicopter control radar, Aselsan FERSAH hull-mounted sonar, Aselsan Target Designation Sight, HAVELSAN ADVENT combat management system, HAVELSAN-made combat information center equipment, two 8x6 130 mm Aselsan KARTACA-N decoy launching systems, IFF system from Leonardo, and Elettronica electronic warfare suite.<ref name="FMPwep1">{{cite web |first=Dimitris |last=Mitsopoulos |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/02/indonesias-merah-putih-class-frigate-what-you-need-to-know/ |title=Indonesia's Merah Putih-class Frigate: What You Need to Know |website=navalnews.com |date=11 February 2025 |access-date=12 February 2025 }}</ref><ref name="FMPwep2">{{cite web |url=https://turdef.com/article/aselsan-provides-mete-han-mfr-to-indonesia-s-future-frigates |title=ASELSAN Provides Mete Han MFR to Indonesia's Future Frigates |website=turdef.com |date=10 February 2025 |access-date=12 February 2025 }}</ref>
Additional equipment in "fitted for-but not with" (FFBNW) configuration includes additional single OTO Melara 76 mm gun, additional two 12.7 mm Leonardo Lionfish RCWS, 8x8 cells (total 64 cells) Roketsan MİDLAS vertical launching system (VLS) for surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, two Leonardo B515/3 triple 324mm torpedo launchers for MU90 LWT torpedoes, and Aselsan CENK 400-N AESA long-range air and surface surveillance radar.<ref name="FMPwep1"/><ref name="FMPwep2"/> The procurement contract for FFBNW equipment was signed by PAL Indonesia on 11 June 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2025 |title=PT PAL Indonesia Usung Teknologi Canggih Sistem Pertahanan Laut di Indo Defence 2024 |url=https://www.pal.co.id/pt-pal-indonesia-usung-teknologi-canggih-sistem-pertahanan-laut-di-indo-defence-2024/ |access-date=28 June 2025 |website=pal.co.id}}</ref>
==Ships of the class== {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top" ! Name ! Pennant No. ! Builder ! Ordered ! First steel cut ! Laid down ! Launched ! Commissioned ! Status |- | {{KRI|Balaputradewa}} | 322 | rowspan="4" |PAL Indonesia, Surabaya Babcock International, Rosyth | rowspan="2" |30 April 2020 | 9 December 2022<ref name="indosteelcut" /> | 25 August 2023<ref name="indokeellaying" /> | 18 December 2025<ref name="BPD322launch1"/> | ''Projected 2028/2029''<ref name="FMPcomplete2">{{cite web |first1=Nirmala Maulana |last1=Achmad |last2=Ihsanuddin |url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2024/07/02/10023991/dua-kapal-fregat-merah-putih-tni-al-diharapkan-bisa-beroperasi-pada-2028 |title=Dua Kapal Fregat Merah Putih TNI AL Diharapkan Bisa Beroperasi pada 2028 |website=kompas.com |date=2 July 2024 |access-date=12 February 2025 |language=ID}}</ref><ref name="FMPcomplete1"/> |Fitting out |- | KRI ''TBA'' | |5 June 2024<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 June 2024 |title=Indonesia Mulai Bangun Unit Kedua Fregat Merah Putih untuk TNI AL |url=https://indonesiadefense.com/indonesia-mulai-bangun-unit-kedua-fregat-merah-putih-untuk-tni-al/ |website=Indonesia Defense}}</ref> |15 November 2024<ref name="indokeellaying2"/> | | ''Projected 2028/2029''<ref name="FMPcomplete1"/><ref name="FMPcomplete2"/> |Under construction |- |KRI ''TBA'' | | rowspan="2" |21 January 2026 | | | | |Planned |- |KRI ''TBA'' | | | | | |Planned |- |}
==See also== * List of active Indonesian Navy ships
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|Red White frigates}}
{{Red White frigate}}
Category:Balaputradewa-class frigates Category:Frigates of the Indonesian Navy Category:Frigate classes