Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Abeking & Rasmussen to design and construct two mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) for the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL).
The 62 m vessels will be an evolution of the German Navy’s Frankenthal class, and will replace the TNI-AL’s ageing fleet of two Pulau Rengat-class MCMVs, both of which were commissioned in March 1988.
Abeking & Rasmussen has not given details of specific systems that would go onboard the vessels, but indicated that MCM payloads would include a mine hunting sonar as well as unmanned vehicles.
MCM mission systems that can be deployed from the German Navy’s Frankenthal class include the Seafox I and Seafox C anti-mine maritime drones, and the Pinguin B3 ROV. The non-magnetisable platform can also accommodate one 4 m rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) for intervention duties.
The Indonesian government approved a sum of USD215 million in 2016 for the replacement programme, but the allocation was subsequently reduced to USD204 million in line with latest requirements submitted by the TNI-AL.
(Jane's)