Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL is stepping up engagement with the Philippine Navy (PN) in efforts to fulfil the service’s capability requirements for sealift, surface combatants, and submarines, an industry official from PT PAL has confirmed to Jane’s .
The official, speaking at the Asian Defence and Security (ADAS) 2018 exhibition in Manila that concluded on 28 September, said that following on from PT PAL’s programme to deliver two Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSVs) to the PN – the second of which was commissioned in May 2017 – the company is negotiating the sale of two additional vessels of the same type.
The official said a contract to supply the two SSVs, which are based on the Makassar-class landing platform dock (LPD) ships in service with the Indonesian Navy that were designed by South Korean shipbuilder Dae Sun, could emerge in 2019 to meet the PN’s requirements to respond to disaster relief and counter-insurgency (COIN)-support requirements. The value of the initial contract was USD92 million.
The PN has also expressed interest in procuring PT PAL’s KCR-60M missile attack craft to also support COIN operations, said the official. Jane’s understands that negotiations over the supply of two initial KCR-60M vessels are continuing and that this could also result in a contract opportunity in 2019. The Indonesian Navy currently operates three 60 m KCR-60Ms, and a fourth is expected to be commissioned soon.
While the programmes to supply the KCR-60M vessel and additional SSVs are regarded as near-term export targets for PT PAL, the possible collaboration on submarines is a longer-term aim, said the official.
In the short term, PT PAL is focused on completing the construction of the Indonesian Navy’s (TNI-AL’s) third Nagapasa (Type 209/1400)-class submarine, developed by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). The first two submarines in the programme – built by DSME – have already been handed over to the TNI-AL under a USD1.1 billion contract signed in 2011.
LATEST STORIES
AH-1W for Attack Chopper?
The U.S Department of Defense is in talks with their Philippine counterpart on the acquisition of 10 AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, with 2 frames possibly funded by Foreign Military Sales (FMS) … [Read More...]
Blackhawk in Philippines, Finally
The Philippine Air Force’s technical working group (TWG) has identified Sikorsky UH60 (Blackhawk) as the combat utility helicopter that would replace the mothballed Bell 412 EPIs, while the selection … [Read More...]
THE JAS-39C/D GRIPEN FOR THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE? – PART TWO
’Asymmetric Warfare’ The biggest asset of the JAS-39C/D is its ability to allow us to conduct sort of like an Asymmetric or Guerilla type of warfare against a stronger opponent. Just as Submarines … [Read More...]
THE JAS-39C/D GRIPEN FOR THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE?
In October 2018, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed in an interview by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the JAS-39 Gripen will likely be selected for the … [Read More...]
US willing to contribute to PHL Navy modernization, says official
The United States Navy on Monday said that it is willing to give some equipment needed for the Navy modernization training of the Philippine Navy's personnel. "We can contribute, certainly from … [Read More...]
Balangiga bells to be returned December
The bells of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, are set to be returned to the country before the end of year after more than a century of being in the United States as war booties from the Philippine-American … [Read More...]
Join the Conversation