Babcock has achieved a key breakthrough in the UK–Indonesia Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP) by securing its first official work package under the £4-billion naval cooperation initiative. The program aims to support Indonesia’s ambition to locally construct advanced naval and fishing vessels while benefiting from British shipbuilding knowledge and technology transfer.
Under the agreement, Babcock will supply two new Arrowhead 140 frigate production licenses, reinforcing Indonesia’s growing surface combatant fleet. These licenses expand on the two Arrowhead 140 designs exported in 2021, which laid the foundation for the Merah Putih-class frigate program. The first ship, KRI Balaputradewa, was successfully launched in late 2025, demonstrating Indonesia’s expanding domestic naval manufacturing capability.
Momentum continued in January 2026, when a letter of intent was signed to authorize construction of two additional frigates, increasing the total planned Merah Putih-class vessels to four. Designed for high-intensity, multi-role naval operations, the Arrowhead 140 platform supports air defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine missions, and electronic warfare, making it a cornerstone of Indonesia’s future naval force structure.
The frigates are 140 meters long, displace roughly 6,000 tons, and are powered by a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system, enabling speeds of up to 28 knots. The project highlights Babcock’s expanding global naval export footprint and underscores the strategic importance of the UK–Indonesia defense partnership in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
