Babcock Partners with Indonesia to Launch Cutting-Edge Frigate Design Initiative
Babcock, the aerospace, defense, and security corporation, has secured its first export agreement for the Arrowhead 140 (AH140) frigate via a design license contract with PT PAL Indonesia (Persero), a state-owned entity focused on building and sustaining vessels for both military and commercial purposes from its base in Surabaya, Indonesia.
This significant agreement arises two years after Babcock’s AH140 model was unveiled as the favored option for the UK Type 31 frigate initiative at DSEI 2019, with the contract being ratified in November of the same year.
The design license will enable PAL to fabricate two Arrowhead 140 frigates in Indonesia, featuring tailored design modifications for the Indonesian Navy.
The agreement was formalized at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2021 exhibition in London, aboard HMS Argyll, by David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock, alongside Kaharuddin Djenod, CEO of PAL. The ceremony was attended by Indonesia’s Defence Minister, Prabowo Subianto, and UK Defence Secretary, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP.
Babcock has been working alongside the UK Government to promote the Arrowhead 140 Frigate in the international arena, receiving considerable global interest. The company recently announced that it was among the shortlisted applicants chosen by the Polish Government to present a potential design solution for the Polish Navy’s Miecznik (Swordfish) frigate program.
The fundamental Arrowhead 140 design is flexible enough to meet various naval requirements and, with Babcock’s expertise, PAL will now make the necessary adjustments to adapt the Arrowhead 140 for the Indonesian market.
David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock, commented:
“Today marks a truly remarkable achievement for Babcock and our frigate export strategy, as we finalize the design license with PAL for two new frigates for the Indonesian Navy.
“The strength of our export offering lies in its easily transferable design, which can be customized to fulfill the specific demands of the customer as part of our comprehensive Arrowhead frigate collection. Furthermore, this design license and subsequent construction initiative will act as a vital catalyst for economic growth in Indonesia.
“By partnering with our Indonesian counterparts, this contract will facilitate the production of Arrowhead 140 frigates in Indonesia, employing the local workforce and directly contributing to the advancement of its sovereign shipbuilding sector and the nation’s economy as a whole. We foresee additional prospects to assist PAL as this initiative progresses.
“It’s a moment of pride for the teams at Babcock and PAL.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated:
“I was delighted to witness the contract signing between Babcock and Indonesia aboard HMS Argyll today, showcasing the pinnacle of British maritime design and engineering to our global allies.
“This emphasizes the strength of our defense partnership with Indonesia, where our Naval Forces will jointly operate this state-of-the-art frigate in the future, working closely to protect our mutual interests worldwide.”
The Arrowhead 140 frigate design benefits from a proven hull-form validated in actual operational contexts, spanning NATO and coalition task forces to national regional and deployed missions. The core Arrowhead 140 design can be adjusted to meet diverse operational needs and profiles expected of a global frigate, thereby enhancing interoperability among naval partners as the user base expands.
