Surabaya, East Java — Dutch naval engineering company Nevesbu has presented an initial concept design for the modernization of the Indonesian Navy’s four Diponegoro-class corvettes. The proposal focuses on Platform System Integration (PSI) to support upgrades to the ships’ sensor, weapon and command infrastructure.
Nevesbu said its PSI concept for the Sensor, Weapon and Command (SEWACO) package was developed in three months. The concept was reviewed by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) and state-owned defence company PT Len Industri, which provided feedback that will be used during the next stage of the program.
The next phase is expected to focus on developing a full-scale engineering design.
Modernization Contract
The concept design follows a modernization contract signed by PT Len Industri and Thales Nederland in November 2022. The five-year program covers all four Damen-built SIGMA 9113 corvettes and includes the modernization of their integrated mission systems.
The program includes a new Thales TACTICOS Combat Management System (CMS) and upgraded sensors. Post-sales support is planned through the Thales Naval Service Centre in Surabaya.
The four ships are KRI Diponegoro (365), KRI Sultan Hasanuddin (366), KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (367) and KRI Frans Kaisiepo (368).
The corvettes were built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands between 2005 and 2009 and are based on the modular SIGMA 9113 design. They measure about 90.71 metres in length, have a 13.02-metre beam, displace about 1,692 tonnes and can reach a maximum speed of 28 knots.
New Radar and Fire-Control Sensors
Concept renderings released by Nevesbu show the lead ship, KRI Diponegoro (365), with changes to its sensor configuration.
The imagery appears to show a Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 medium-range tracking and fire-control radar replacing the existing Thales Lightweight Radar/Optronic Director (LIROD).
The concept also appears to show a Thales NS50 I-band 4D surveillance radar in place of the ships’ existing Thales MW08 radar.
The new sensors are planned to work with the Thales TACTICOS Combat Management System, which will form an important part of the modernized mission-system architecture.
The renderings do not indicate major changes to the corvettes’ existing weapons fit.
Existing Weapons
The Diponegoro class currently carries a 76 mm Oto Melara gun, Exocet MM40 Block III anti-ship missiles, Mistral surface-to-air missiles, 20 mm guns and lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes.
The class has also received earlier upgrades, including the installation of Kingklip hull-mounted sonar, Exocet MM40 Block III missiles and enhancements to the Terma C-Guard decoy system.
The existing sensor suite has included the TACTICOS combat management system, MW08 radar, LIROD fire-control radar and Kingklip sonar.
Surabaya Expected to Support Refurbishment
If the modernization proceeds to physical refurbishment, installation work is expected to take place in Surabaya, East Java. The city is the homeport of the four Diponegoro-class corvettes and is also being used for other Indonesian Navy modernization work.
Nevesbu is already involved in the modernization of the Indonesian Navy’s three Bung Tomo-class light frigates/corvettes. The program is led by PT Len Industri, with Thales Netherlands serving as the combat system integrator.
For the Bung Tomo-class modernization, Nevesbu is responsible for platform systems integration, including surveys, design and engineering work and on-site support during construction. Work on the first ship, KRI Usman Harun, is under way in Surabaya, while surveys have also been conducted for the other two ships.
The Diponegoro-class project would therefore add another Indonesian Navy modernization program to Nevesbu’s work in Indonesia.
Nevesbu specializes in naval architecture, marine engineering and platform systems integration and has a history of work on naval vessels and submarines dating back to 1935.
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