Norwegian technology company Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to supply advanced propulsion and maneuvering technology for two new KCR-70 fast attack craft for the Indonesian Navy.
As informed, the package will include an “innovative propulsion system” that combines twin controllable pitch propeller (CPP) Promas systems for high efficiency at patrol speeds with a single Kamewa waterjet to provide boost power for high-speed operation.
This configuration is expected to optimize propulsion power, speed, and maneuverability to ensure performance and efficiency for these new craft, according to Kongsberg.
Furthermore, the vessels will have combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion. This comprises twin diesel engines and a centrally positioned, 23-megawatt gas turbine to directly drive the 160-centimeter diameter waterjet, which is capable of discharging more than 30 cubic meters of water per second, Kongsberg noted.
The use of twin Promas CPP for main propulsion at speeds over 40 knots when the waterjet is used for boost power, is an innovative approach, the firm added.
Kongsberg Maritime carried out extensive hydrodynamic analysis to integrate the hull form and two different types of propulsor into one system that offers enhanced maneuverability, speed, and efficiency.
The KCR-70, currently under contract at Turkish Sefine Shipyard, is based on the firm’s FACM-70 design. The 70-meter fast attack craft is designed for a variety of missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, anti-surface warfare, and anti-air warfare.
Displacing 850 tonnes, the KCR-70 is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 40 knots. With a range of 1,600 nautical miles and an endurance of seven days, these vessels are well-equipped to perform extended missions in diverse operational environments, it was concluded.
In October last year, Sefine Shipyard cut the steel for the first two KCR-70 fast attack craft for the Indonesian Navy.
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