Babcock has secured its first work order under the 4-billion-pound ($5.3 billion) Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP) between the UK and Indonesia.
The MPP, launched in November 2025, will see Jakarta construct naval and fishing vessels domestically while using British shipbuilding expertise.
As the lead industrial partner in the program, Babcock will deliver two Arrowhead 140 frigate licenses to Indonesia in the coming months.
This builds on two previous Arrowhead 140 licenses exported in 2021, which Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL used to construct the first pair of frigates under the Merah Putih-class.
“Today’s next phase of our partnership with Indonesia is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK, securing hundreds of high‑skilled jobs right here in Rosyth and strengthening our world-class shipbuilding future,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Meanwhile, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto called the partnership “very important and strategic for Indonesia. This is a vital part of our maritime economic development.”
Merah Putih-Class Frigate
The lead ship KRI Balaputradewa (322) was launched in December 2025, with construction underway for the second frigate.
Following the success of the first, a letter of intent was signed in January 2026 for the license to build two additional Merah Putih-class frigates, bringing the total planned to four.
Designed for multi-domain warfare, the ship supports anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine operations, as well as electronic warfare, naval gunfire, and air defense missions.
The frigate measures 140 meters (459 feet) long and 19.8 meters (65 feet) wide, with a standard displacement of about 6,000 tons.
Powered by a CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel) propulsion system, it can reach speeds of 28 knots (52 kilometers/32 miles per hour).
