Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Abeking & Rasmussen to design and construct two mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) for the Indonesian Navy. The Indonesian government approved a sum of USD215 million in 2016 for the replacement programme, but the allocation was subsequently reduced to USD204 million in line with latest requirements submitted by the Indonesian Navy. The 62 m vessels will be an evolution of the German Navy’s Frankenthal class, and will replace the the Indonesian Navy’s ageing fleet of two Pulau Rengat-class MCMVs, both of which were commissioned in March 1988.
Abeking & Rasmussen has not given details of specific systems that would go onboard the vessels, but indicated that MCM payloads would include a mine hunting sonar as well as unmanned vehicles. Mine countermeasures vessels mission systems that can be deployed from the German Navy’s Frankenthal class include the Seafox I and Seafox C anti-mine maritime drones, and the Pinguin B3 ROV. The non-magnetisable platform can also accommodate one 4 m rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) for intervention duties.
The Type 332 Frankenthal-class mine hunter is a class of German mine hunters. The vessels are built of non-magnetic steel. Hull, machinery and superstructure of this class is similar to the original Type 343 Hameln-class minesweeper, but the equipment differs. All active vessels are currently stationed in Kiel at the Baltic Sea. 2 vessels was sold to United Arab Emirates in 2006. Slightly modified Frankenthal-class minehunters are also operated by the Turkish Navy, where they are referred to as the A class. M1060 Weiden was sold to United Arab Emirates in 2006.