Indonesia Seals Frigate Deal with Turkey
Two I-class warships to bolster naval capabilities
Indonesia has finalized an agreement with Turkish shipbuilding group TAIS to acquire two advanced I-class frigates for its navy. The landmark pact was cemented on July 26, 2025, during the IDEF defense exhibition held in Istanbul.
Strategic Naval Partnership Strengthened
The Turkish Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) officially announced the contract on social media. The agreement involves the delivery of two MİLGEM Istiif-class frigates, marking a significant step in naval cooperation between the two nations. The signing ceremony saw the presence of key figures, including Indonesia’s Minister of Defence, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and the head of the Indonesian MoD’s Defense Facilities Agency, Air Marshall Yusuf Jauhari. CEOs from Indonesia’s PT PAL and Turkey’s TAIS shipyards also attended.
At IDEF 2025, with the participation of President of Defence Industries Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, TAIS Shipyards signed contracts with Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence for two MİLGEM Istiif-class frigates. This marks Türkiye’s first export of MİLGEM-class vessels to Indonesia and represents a significant milestone in strategic naval cooperation, bringing pride to our nations. We hope this collaboration, embodying the shared maritime defense vision of two allied nations, will be beneficial for all parties involved.
— Turkish Defence Industry (@SSBTurkey) July 26, 2025
While specific financial and technical details of the deal remain undisclosed, the pact follows a memorandum of understanding signed between PT PAL and TAIS last month. Industry observers suggest that the frigates may already be under construction in Turkey, potentially being transferred directly to Indonesia’s Navy (TNI AL) rather than first joining the Turkish fleet. This approach mirrors a previous arrangement where Fincantieri supplied PPA vessels to another navy that were initially destined for Italian service.
About the I-class Frigates
The I-class frigate, developed under Turkey’s MILGEM indigenous warship program, is an enhanced version of the Ada-class corvette. These frigates are designed for extensive maritime roles, including anti-submarine and surface warfare, air defense, reconnaissance, and surveillance. The vessels are approximately 113 meters in length and are equipped with advanced Turkish-made systems such as the ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile, MIDLAS Vertical Launch System (VLS), Gökdeniz Close-In Air Weapon System, and the ADVENT Combat Management System. The first I-class frigate, TCG Istanbul, was commissioned into the Turkish Navy in 2021.
Enhancing Indonesia’s Naval Modernization
The acquisition of these two frigates is part of a broader Indonesian naval modernization effort. The TNI AL is also slated to receive several other classes of modern warships, including PKR frigates from Damen, Merah Putih frigates built with Turkish systems, and PPA frigates from Fincantieri. Indonesia’s defense strategy also includes the procurement of submarines from South Korea and France, and the consideration of an aircraft carrier from Italy. This diverse fleet composition aims to bolster Indonesia’s maritime security and power projection capabilities.
In 2023, global defense spending reached an estimated $2.4 trillion, underscoring the ongoing international focus on military modernization and capability enhancement (Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute – SIPRI).
