Indonesian shipyard launches frigate

VLISSINGEN, Netherlands, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Indonesia's PT PAL shipbuilding has launched the first of two Dutch-designed guided missile frigates for the Indonesian Navy.

The SIGMA 10514 Perusak Kawal Rudal, built in collaboration with Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, or DSNS, is nearly 345 feet long and displaces 2,365 tons. It is of a modular design -- four built in PT PAL's shipyards and two built by DSNS in the Netherlands.

The vessel has a speed of 28 knots and can sail up to 5,000 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots.

The ship will be operated by the Indonesian Navy in anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, and anti-submarine warfare roles, as well as in search-and-rescue, patrol, and humanitarian support operations.

"The Launching of PKR1 is a great momentum for the development of the Indonesian shipbuilding and maritime industry," said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli. "This has shown that Indonesia has the human resources and skills to develop naval vessels.

"However, we must still improve our technology and knowledge in order to compete internationally. Certainly, this is what we hope to achieve from our partner DSNS."

The SIGMA 10514 PKR frigate was a project initiated in August 2010 by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense.