Indonesia starts construction of two new indigenous Offshore Patrol Vessels

The 90-meter OPV design from PT Daya Radar Utama, as shown on their video. Photo c/o PT Daya Radar Utama.

Indonesian shipbuilder PT Daya Radar Utama has started construction of two new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL).

The first steel cutting ceremony for the two new ships was held on 26 August 2021 at PT Daya Radar Utama’s facility in Lampung province, and was attended by top officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MOD), National Armed Forces (TNI), Indonesian Navy and PT Daya Radar Utama.

One of the ships was described as a “90-meter Offshore Patrol Vessel”, while other was described only as an “Offshore Patrol Vessel”. This could mean that both ships are not of the same class and may differ in size and design.

The Indonesian MOD said the new OPVs are meant to strengthen Indonesia’s naval capabilities and fulfil gaps in its patrol assets.

The OPV will fill a gap between its patrol boats under the Patrol Ship Unit, and its corvette and frigate combat vessels under its Escort Ship Unit.

According to TNI official, the construction of new ships was also said to be a form of promoting the national defense industry, encourage the recovery of the national economy, and increase the capacity and expertise of the Indonesian shipbuilding industry to construct warships.

The 90-meter OPV is expected to follow PT Daya Radar Utama’s previous design releases, which has a length of 90 meters, a width of 13.5 meters, and is powered by four 7,280-kilowatt diesel engines capable of propelling the ship to a maximum speed of around 28 knots.

It is also expected to have a crew of 94 personnel.

Based on design photos and videos from PT Daya Radar Utama, the 90-meter OPV will be armed with a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid naval gun, a 35mm Rheinmetall Millennium Gun close-in weapon system (CIWS), and two quadruple launchers for MBDA MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles.

The weapons are said to be for procurement at a later date, with the OPVs being Fitted for but not with (FFBNW).

It has a helicopter deck and hangar for a naval helicopter, and has two stern ramps for Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) for Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations.

No details have been made available on the design of the second OPV, but French defense news outlet Naval News mentioned that it could potentially be a 60-meter design, and has a different weapon and sensor fit-out and without a helicopter operations facility. 




[1] Naval News
[2] Naval Today
[3] Indomiliter