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Bung Tomo-class corvette

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KRI Bung Tomo (357) and KRI Usman Harun (359)
Class overview
BuildersBAE Systems Marine
Operators
Preceded byDiponegoro class (Indonesia)
Built1998–2002[1]
In commission2014–present
Completed3
Active3
General characteristics
TypeF2000 corvette / multi-role light frigate (MRLF)
Displacement1,940 tonnes (2,138 tons)
Length89.9 m (295 ft) LWL, 95 m (312 ft) LOA
Beam12.8 metres (42 feet)
Draught3.6 metres (12 feet)
Propulsion
Speed30 knots (56 km/h)[2]
Range5,000 nautical miles (9,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)[3]
Complement79 (space for an additional 24)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Ultra Electronics / Radamec Series 2500 electro-optic weapons director
  • Thales Underwater Systems TMS 4130C1 hull-mounted sonar
  • BAE Systems Insyte AWS-9 E- and F-band air and surface 3D radar
  • BAE Insyte 1802SW I/J-band radar trackers
  • Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 navigation radar
  • Thales Nederland Scout radar for surface search[3]
  • Thales Sensors Cutlass 242 countermeasures[3]
Armament
Aircraft carried1x Eurocopter AS565 Panther[4]
Aviation facilitiesFlightdeck, no hangar

The Bung Tomo class is a class of three Indonesian multi-role corvettes or 'multi-role light frigate' (MRLF) bought from Brunei by Indonesia.[5][6] They were originally built for the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN; Malay: Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, TLDB), and named Nakhoda Ragam-class corvettes, but were ultimately bought by Indonesia and subsequently renamed.[7] The class is named after Bung Tomo, a noted leader of Indonesia's independence movement.

Background

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The Nakhoda Ragam-class ships in Barrow-in-Furness, 2007.

The three vessels were built by BAE Systems Marine (now BAE Systems Maritime - Naval Ships). The contract was awarded to GEC-Marconi in 1995, and the ships, a variant of the F2000 design, were launched in January 2001, June 2001, and June 2002, at the then BAE Systems Marine yard at Scotstoun, Glasgow. The customer (Royal Brunei Navy) refused to accept the vessels, due to claims by the Royal Brunei Navy that the ships fail to meet the required specifications;[8] though opinion in the shipyard was that they were too complex for a small navy to operate.[9] The contract dispute became the subject of arbitration.[10] When the dispute was settled in favour of BAE Systems, the vessels were handed over to Royal Brunei Technical Services (RBTS) in June 2007.[9]

In 2007, Brunei contracted the German Lürssen shipyard to find a new customer for the three ships. In 2013, Indonesia bought the vessels for £380 million, or half of the original unit cost.[11] The ships are now in service with the Indonesian Navy.

The ships were originally armed with MBDA Exocet Block II anti-ship missiles and MBDA Seawolf air defence missiles. The main gun is an Oto Melara 76 mm. The ship also carries two torpedo tubes, two 30 mm remote weapon stations, and has a landing pad for a helicopter. As 2018, the MBDA Seawolf missile was out of service due to expired, and there was plan to replace it with VL Mica[12]

Operational history

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In late December 2014, KRI Bung Tomo was involved in search and recovery operations of the Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 which crashed off the Java Sea between the islands of Belitung and Borneo.[13] Later in early January 2015, KRI Usman Harun was deployed to search for the black boxes as the ship is equipped with the Thales Underwater Systems TMS 4130C1 hull-mounted sonar.[14][15] In late April 2021, KRI Bung Tomo was involved in the search for the then missing KRI Nanggala (402)[16]

Ships of the class

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KRI Bung Tomo is named after Sutomo, the leader of Indonesian guerrillas during the Battle of Surabaya. The naming of KRI John Lie memorialises the first Chinese Indonesian to be honored as National Hero of Indonesia, who was also one of the first high ranking navy commanders during the Indonesian National Revolution. The naming of KRI Usman Harun memorialises Harun Said and Osman Hj Mohd Ali, who were executed by Singapore after the MacDonald House bombing, creating a controversy between the two nations.[17]

pennant
no.
name builder launched commissioned status
357 (30) KRI Bung Tomo
(ex-KDB Jerambak)
BAE Systems Marine,
Scotstoun
22 Jun 2002 [18] 11 Jul 2014 [19] commissioned
358 (28) KRI John Lie
(ex-KDB Nakhoda Ragam)
BAE Systems Marine,
Scotstoun
13 Jan 2001 [20] 18 Jul 2014 [19] commissioned
359 (29) KRI Usman Harun
(ex-KDB Bendahara Sakam)
BAE Systems Marine,
Scotstoun
23 Jun 2001 [21] 18 Jul 2014 commissioned

Modernisation

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On 10 March 2020 in Jakarta, Len Industri and Thales signed a contract for the complete modernisation of the Indonesian Navy KRI Usman Harun multi-role light frigate's mission system, witnessed by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Indonesian Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto. This upgrade for the KRI Usman Harun is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, and it will considerably extend the service life of the frigate.[22]

A final specification was drawn up, including Thales's TACTICOS Combat Management System, SMART-S Mk2 3D, and STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 radars, a Vigile Mk2 ESM, and two new tactical data links – Link Y Mk2 and a tactical data link that will be delivered by PT Len Industri, providing connectivity to Indonesia's military communications network and enabling the corvette to play its full part in wider naval task forces. The systems' commonality with those on other Indonesian ships would reduce training time and facilitate management and maintenance. Existing weaponry will also be fully integrated, and a new VL MICA surface-to-air missile system added; a significant boost for the vessel's air defence capability.[23][24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bung Tomo Class Corvette". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Ruston's RK270 engines power offshore patrol vessels". MarineLink.com. Maritime News. 1 October 2001. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Nakhoda Ragam class offshore patrol vessels, Brunei". Naval-Technology.com. Naval Technology. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  4. ^ Ridzwan Rahmat. "Indonesian Navy to equip Bung Tomo corvettes with Panther ASW helicopters". Janes.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. ^ "KRI Bung Tomo class". Koarmada1.TNIAL.mil.id. Komando Armada 1. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Tiga Kapal Perang MLRF Buatan Inggris Perkuat Koarmatim" [Three British-made MLRF warships strengthen Koarmatim]. TNI.mil.id (in Indonesian). Indonesian Armed Forces. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Former TNI-AD chief of staff calls for ban on Singapore warships entering Indonesian waters". Janes.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Brunei and BAE Systems dispute ship acceptance". Janes.com. Jane's. 26 April 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2007.
  9. ^ a b "Shipyard deadlock ends". ShipsMonthly.com. Ships Monthly, IPC Media Ltd. 10 August 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
  10. ^ "BAE Systems, Brunei OPV dispute nears resolution". Janes.com. Jane's. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2007.
  11. ^ Santosa, Novan Iman (23 October 2020). "Used 'alutsista': Warships that safeguard Indonesian waters". TheJakartaPost.com. The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Nakhoda Ragam class offshore patrol vessel". Naval-Technology.com. Naval Technology. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
  13. ^ "KRI Bung Tomo Berhasil Angkat Enam Jenazah Diduga Korban AirAsia QZ8501" [KRI Bung Tomo successfully raises six bodies of suspected AirAsia QZ8501 victims]. Nasional.Kompas.com (in Indonesian). 30 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Indonesia deploys controversial KRI Usman Harun to QZ8501 search site". TheRealSingapore.com. 4 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015.
  15. ^ "Indonesia deploys controversial KRI Usman Harun for AirAsia plane search". ChannelNewsAsia.com. Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015.
  16. ^ "KRI 357 (Military Ops) registered in United Kingdom - vessel details, current position and voyage information - IMO 0, MMSI 235755000, Call Sign PLJT". MarineTraffic.com.
  17. ^ Cheney-Peters, Scott (19 February 2014). "Troubled waters: Indonesia's growing maritime disputes". TheDiplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  18. ^ "KDB Jerambak". ClydeSite.co.uk. Clydebuilt Database. Archived from the original on 10 September 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^ a b Ridzwan Rahmat (23 July 2014). "Indonesia commissions first two of three Bung Tomo-class corvettes". Janes.com. Jane's Information Group. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  20. ^ "KDB Nakhoda Ragam". ClydeSite.co.uk. Clydebuilt Database. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "KDB Bendahara Sakam". ClydeSite.co.uk. Clydebuilt Database. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ "Len Industri & Thales to modernise Indonesian frigate KRI Usman-Harun". NavalNews.com. 10 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Thales to modernise multi-role light frigate KRI Usman-Harun of Indonesian Navy". NavyRecognition.com. September 2020.
  24. ^ "Indonesia's decisive move to modernise its naval patrol capability". ThalesGroup.com. Thales Group. September 2020.
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