Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder, PT PAL, conducted a keel-laying ceremony for the third Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship for the Philippine Navy, in Surabaya, East Java today (Jan. 22). Also known as the Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) project in the Philippines, the event also marks the steel cutting for the fourth ship as part of a contract signed in Manila, Philippines in June 2022.
“With the Philippines, two ships have been exported and currently another (two) are under contract. This shows the level of trust of friendly countries in our defense industry,” said Kaharuddin Djenod, President Director of PT PAL. “When trust is given to the domestic defense industry, we can provide results of truly convincing quality, and are not inferior to the results of the foreign defense industry,” he added.
Indonesia exported two ships to the Philippines under a previous contract signed in 2014. Both are now on active duty with the Philippine Navy as the Tarlac-class LPDs.
“This is a testament to the spirit of friendship, cooperation, and shared commitment to regional security and stability,” said Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard N Valencia, Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy. “The journey we begin today symbolizes not only the building of ships but also the strengthening of the ties that unite our two maritime nations.”
“This ship, born from the collaborative efforts of Indonesian and Filipino experts, will be a symbol of our shared commitment to defense and maritime cooperation. This is a form of joint dedication to advancing maritime capabilities, encouraging regional stability, and fostering a sense of concern between countries,” he concluded.
With a planned launch in 2025 and delivery in 2026, the third and fourth LPD ships for the Philippine Navy will incorporate numerous changes compared to the Tarlac-class ships. While the specifics of these changes have not been publicized, it is believed that the newer ships will have improved well decks, and helicopter hangars, as well as other general improvements in their layout.
All these changes are based on the user’s inputs to improve the serviceability of the new vessels.
Each of the new LPD ships for the Philippine Navy has a displacement of around 7,200 tonnes. With a length of 124 meters and 21.8 meters beam, these ships will have a maximum speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 13 knots under full load. They will have a maximum range of about 9,360 nautical miles and a 30-day endurance.
With a maximum capacity of 680 fully armed troops, each ship can carry 1 helicopter in the 10-ton weight class. There are also two landing pads for two helicopters that can be used simultaneously. Aside from two Landing Craft Utility (LCU) carried inside the well deck, each ship is also equipped with two Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), one on each side of the superstructure.
Each of the new LPDs will have a provision for a 76 mm Oto Melara main gun, two mount points for two Aselsan SMASH 30 mm cannons, a mount point for a Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), and eight mount points for 8 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. All of these weapons are to be installed separately by the Philippine Navy after delivery.
Photo: PT PAL
Ecojet, the world's first electric, commercial airline, has signed an agreement to purchase 22 ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia, with…
Vertical Aerospace has seen its latest VX4 prototype perform its first tethered piloted flight as it begins the “wheels up”…
As many as 260 firm commercial aircraft orders and £81.5bn worth of deals were struck on the first four days…
The first mission-ready F-16 pilots to graduate from the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania were honoured today. This…
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded Airbus Helicopters a contract to lead a concept study as part…
Turkish Technic, a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, has recently signed a Component Support Agreement with Citilink, a…
Following its firm order of 20 A330neo aircraft at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, Vietjet has entered into significant agreements…
NASA Langley Research Center has awarded a contract to Terma to improve the data management and operational efficiency of its…
With the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry on the verge of take-off, there has been a concerted effort by companies…
Magellan Aerospace Corporation (Magellan) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Farnborough Airshow with the Indian firm, Aequs…
ZeroAvia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will work towards a demonstration flight using ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines for large…
Pratt & Whitney has received more than 950 GTF engine orders and commitments since the beginning of the year. Airlines…
Triumph's Thermal Systems Division has been awarded a long-term-program contract to design, manufacture and support the precooler system for the…
Pratt & Whitney and OGMA Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal , an Embraer company, have announced the induction of the first…
Abra Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for five A350-900 aircraft, aiming to expand its international long-haul operations…
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flynas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 75 A320neo family aircraft and…
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has signed a six-year agreement with GE Aerospace to extend their TrueChoice Service…
AirAsia Aviation Group and AirAsia X, two of Asia’s largest low-cost carrier groups, have strengthened partnerships with SITA, adopting SITA…
AAR, a provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, has entered into several long-term distribution…
J&C Aero, an EASA-certified international cabin interior hub, has successfully completed a full cabin modernisation of a Boeing 757-200, equipping…
Hours after it signed a contract with Australian company Wilbur Air, Spanish electric aircraft manufacturer Crisalion Mobility announced that it…
In a significant milestone for the D328eco programme, German OEM Deutsche Aircraft has commenced the construction of the first test…
British cargo airline, One Air, has marked its first year of operations by connecting 28 global airports and transporting over…
Liebherr-Aerospace and AAR have announced the signing of a General Terms Agreement (GTA). Under this agreement, Liebherr will grant licence…
EirTrade Aviation, the global aviation asset management and trading company, has begun disassembling its first B777-300ER in Knock, Ireland. The…
JEKTA Switzerland, the developer of the zero-emissions PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft, has signed an agreement with Seaplane Asia to add…
Embraer announced a significant development for Brazilian air traffic during the Farnborough International Airshow. Atech, an Embraer Group company specialising…
Boeing and Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline group, are set to enhance the efficiency of Ryanair’s primarily 737 fleet by incorporating…
Specialist regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord has secured a new five-year term loan with BayernLB. This agreement strengthens TrueNoord’s relationship with…
LanzaJet, a sustainable fuels technology company, has received a strategic investment from Airbus to help expand LanzaJet’s ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.