Indonesian first Sigma-class frigate completes sea trials

The first of two SIGMA 10514 PKR naval frigates for the Indonesian Navy has completed its sea trials, Dutch shipbuilder Damen has informed.

The assessment phase began with seven days of basin trials to ensure that the propulsion and safety systems were fully operational before the vessel made the passage from the PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya to the open waters of the Java Sea.

Once in the Java Sea, the frigate spent two weeks testing weapons systems and the combat radar and commissioning the sonar. Noise measurements and cavitation observations were also carried out.

According to Damen, the trials were successful, with almost all the systems passing their assessments first time around. Some elements, such as the accommodation, require minor modifications and these will be undertaken prior to final tests at the end of September.

The 105-metre, 2,365 tonne PKR frigates are designed to undertake a range of missions in and around the waters of Indonesia. Their primary mission is anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. However, they are also equipped for maritime security, search and rescue, and humanitarian support tasks.

The two vessels are built using a collaborative modular process operating simultaneously at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in the Netherlands and PT PAL shipyard in Indonesia. Each is made up of six modules, and for the first vessel four of these were built at PT PAL. The other two were built and fully tested at DSNS in the Netherlands before being shipped for final assembly at PT PAL.

First steel for the first frigate was cut in January 2014. The ship is now on schedule for delivery at the end of January 2017 following the completion of three months of crew training. Meanwhile, work is currently proceeding in both the Netherlands and Indonesia on the second vessel in the contract.