BRP Tarlac (LD-601)

PT PAL Lays Keel for PN’s Second Improved Tarlac-class SSV

Our Bureau - : May 31, 2024 - : 2:43 am

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Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL laid the keel for the second improved Tarlac-class Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) intended for the Philippine Navy (PN) in Surabaya, on Wednesday (May 29). This vessel is part of a PHP 5.56 billion (approximately USD 95.1 million) contract signed in 2022 for two SSVs, following the delivery of two Tarlac-class ships to the Philippines in 2016 and 2017.

"We are proud to be working with the Philippine Navy and are confident that this ship will be a valuable asset for them. This is not just about building ships, but also strengthening defense and security relations in the Southeast Asia region," said Iqbal Fikri, Chief Operations Officer (COO) of PT PAL, as quoted by the Indonesian News Agency, Antara.

"I always remember that PT PAL always prioritizes quality in its products. This project ran smoothly because we were able to work together and PT PAL's Project Management Team was very good," said Capt. Emerson F Oxales PN, Chairman of the Philippines Navy Owner Representatives (PNOR).

In 2019, the Philippine government greenlit the acquisition of two additional landing dock vessels (LDVs) for the Philippine Navy under the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP). Each LDV, now referred to as SSV, must be at least 120 meters long, have a beam of 21 meters, and a displacement of approximately 7,200 tonnes. Each vessel must also accommodate two medium-sized helicopters, have a crew complement of 138, and a carrying capacity for 500 fully-armed troops.

PT PAL's winning design, an upgraded version of the Tarlac-class SSV, is based on the Indonesian Navy’s (TNI-AL) Makassar-class ships, which themselves are derived from the TNI-AL Tanjung Dalpele-class built in South Korea. The new vessels will be 123 meters long, with a beam of 21.8 meters, a draft of 5 meters, and a displacement of around 7,300 tonnes.

Powered by two diesel engines producing 2,920 kW each, these vessels can achieve a maximum speed of 16 knots, a cruising speed of 13 knots, and have a maximum range of 9,360 nautical miles (17,335 km). They offer an endurance of 30 days for their 138 crew members or 15 days when fully loaded.

The ships will be delivered with a “Fitted For But Not With” (FFBNW) configuration, allowing the PN to later install an Oto Melara Super Rapid 76 mm naval gun, an ASELSAN Smash 30 mm Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS), a Rheinmetall Millennium Gun 35 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), and a Terma C-Guard countermeasure/decoy launching system.

These improved Tarlac-class SSVs will incorporate numerous enhancements based on feedback from the PN's use of the previous two ships.

Pt-pal / Philippine-navy-pn / Tarlac-class /

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