UAE procures landing platform dock from Indonesian shipbuilder

The UAE signed a contract worth 1.5 billion AED (equivalent to $408 million USD) with Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL for the procurement of a 163-meter multi-mission vessel, specifically a Landing Platform Dock (LPD).

The LPD deal was announced on the first day of IDEX/NAVDEX 2023 with a press release issued by the IDEX team, Naval News reports.

“Majed Ahmed Al Jaberi, Official Spokesman of Tawazun Council, announced the contracts Tawazun Council has signed with international companies. They include an AED 1.5 billion contract with the Indonesian company PT Pal for the procurement of multi-mission vessel…,”  IDEX press release reads.

At NAVDEX 2023, PT PAL showcased a scale model of the LPD, which is slightly larger than Makassar-class LPDs. PT PAL’s booth was visited by Naval News during the exhibition, but company officials declined to comment on the deal.

According to Harry Lye from Shephard Media, the LPD will be built in Surabaya, with construction to start this year, and the deal includes UAE content, specifically in the form of Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) RHIBs and Interceptors that will operate from the platform.

The signing of the contract for the LPD was not unexpected, as the UAE’s interest in this vessel is not new. With a plan to improve its force projection capabilities, the UAE Navy has sent out a team to inspect the Indonesian Navy’s Makassar-class LPD, KRI Banda Aceh (593) back in April 2022. According to an Indonesian Navy Instagram post, the UAE Navy team consisted of operations officers, engineers, and medical personnel who experienced the ship’s operational capabilities onboard.

Three months later, Indonesia and the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that outlined the two countries’ economic partnership, including a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) Purchase Contract between PT PAL Indonesia and the UAE Navy.

The 163-meter multipurpose support vessel will have a width of 24 meters and a displacement of 13.000 tons. She will have a hybrid propulsion system consisting of 2x7280kW engines, that would be able to provide a 20 knots of maximum speed. The new LPD will have an endurance of 30 days at sea and her range will exceed 10.000 nautical miles.

The capabilities of the new LPD;

• 1×15 tons capable cargo crane
• 1×18 tons of vehicle lift
• A well deck capable to house 2 LCUs
• 2 RHIBs (35 knots)
• 2 Interceptors (55 knots)
• 500 troops
• 16xPT-91 tanks
• 6xAV-8 MPAVs
• 1 mobile ambulance

The new LPD will be capable to carry 3xEC 725 helicopters on deck and 2xEX 725 helicopters at hangar. UAVs with ground facilities will also be deployed onboard the new vessel.

The main gun of the LPD will be either a 76 mm or 57 mm gun. Other weapınry will consist of a 40 mm gun and 4×12.7 mm RWSs, or 2x35mm close-in weapon systems, and 4×12.7 mm guns.

In addition to her amphibious capabilities, the new LPD will be capable to undertake humanitarian aid missions, disaster relief and mass evacuation operations, naval sealift operations, logistic support, and command and control of the fleet.