Indonesia Secures Two More Arrowhead 140 Frigate Designs

Babcock International has sold another two Arrowhead 140 frigate design licences to Indonesia, marking another export success for the platform, which also forms the basis of the Royal Navy’s Type 31. This is the first tangible agreement signed under the broader £4 billion Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP) Babcock signed with Indonesia last year to establish a long-term industrial relationship. The MPP is intended to support the modernisation of Indonesia’s maritime forces and associated shipbuilding infrastructure. The new licences follow the original export of two Arrowhead 140 licences agreed in 2021, confirming continued Indonesian commitment to the design. The announcement comes after the first ship of the Merah Putih frigate class, KRI Balaputradewa, was launched in Indonesia in December last year. That milestone represented a significant step for the programme, demonstrating local construction progress and the transfer of design and build knowledge. The MPP is intended to go beyond individual ship sales and will support the recapitalisation of the navy and Indonesia’s fishing industry. The agreement adds further momentum to growing UK warship export successes and increases the profile of the Arrowhead 140 design, also selected by Poland and underpinning the Type 31 frigate project. Licensing the design supports the sustainability of UK naval architecture and the shipbuilding industrial base. As the ships share some common equipment, there are increased economies of scale in manufacture and support for every new vessel added to the programme. As a result of its success, Babcock has been able to invest in UK workforce development and in 2025-26, around 1,600 early career roles are being created across the organisation.