Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin has launched a new trimaran-hull fast missile attack craft for the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), the future KRI Golok (688), at a ceremony at its facility in Banyuwangi, East Java, on 21 August.
The first-of-class vessel of the type, KRI Klewang (625) was gutted by an onboard fire on 29 September 2012 while undergoing maintenance by the company, just a month after its launch. Investigation reports were never made public, although PT Lundin subsequently announced that Klewang had suffered a short circuit in its electrical systems.
Like Klewang, Golok is derived from PT Lundin’s 63 m-long X3K wave-piercing trimaran design, which can accommodate up to 30 personnel and displaces 245 tonnes.
Golok has inherited the general design of the original vessel, with the hull and superstructure constructed from carbon fibre foam sandwich and vinyl ester resin. According to company officials, the hull material is now less susceptible to fire damage as a result of being infused with fire retardants during manufacture.
The original design also called for a retractable main gun in a stealthy cupola and capacity for four Saab RBS15 Mk3 surface-to-surface missiles.
“The vessel is made from composite materials, which is lighter and stronger, can better withstand corrosion, and is less likely to be detected by the enemy,” said TNI-AL chief Admiral Yudo Margono at the vessel’s launching ceremony.
“It will also be equipped with missiles and the vessel can be deployed for hit-and-run operations,” Adm Yudo added.
The TNI-AL originally planned to operate four of these vessels with the intention to acquire more depending on anticipated requirements.
PT Lundin has also built a prototype 18 m catamaran-hulled vessel called the Tank Boat as part of a consortium led by state-owned defence company PT Pindad.
The vessel features a Cockerill 3030 remote weapon system mounting a Mk44 30 mm automatic cannon and capacity to embark up to 60 personnel, and is aimed at meeting potential army and navy requirements.
by Jr Ng
