In March 2020, the Delegation of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry, accompanied by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia for Denmark, Mr. Ibnu Said, had met the CEO Odense Maritime Technology, Kåre Groes Christiansen, to continue the discussion regarding the cooperation of the two countries on Indonesian Maritime Defense.
The Danish shipyard OMT seems enthusiastic on selling its Iver Huitfeldt to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. Managed through its subsidiary in Singapore, OMT Sea Pte also relies on the strong presence of its Indonesian local partner, the Sinar Kokoh Persada group (SKP), led by Johny Petsie Ratu. SKP group has drawn much attention from various other players in the industry, worried that the former will ignore the 1997 OECD anti-corruption convention when it comes to the conduct of its contractual negotiations. The group acts as a local partner for the Spanish group Freire Shipyard and the Canadian Scardana; while representing the Ukrainian Autokraz and the American L3.
Moreover, among the Indonesian delegation, Police Commissioner-General (Komjen Pol) Suhardi Alius, from the Indonesian National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT), held a meeting with the Danish Center for the Prevention of Extremism in Copenhagen.
Indonesia currently has several warships. The Six Van Speijk that has been in operation since 1967: KRI Slamet Riyadi, KRI Yos Sudarso, KRI Ahmad Yani, KRI Oswald Siahaan, KRI Karel Satsuit Tubun, and KRI Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma. The ships are expected gradually to retire starting in 2024. Indonesia is currently looking for potential replacements, wanting at least four more warships as part of the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) plan.
It is also reported that the Indonesian Navy plans to purchase two Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates, with a budget plan of US$ 720 million for its MEF phase three, in 2020-2024. Denmark has also proposed a “technology transfer” (ToT) program to Indonesia, such as a modular frigate construction designed by BUMN PT PAL.
Iver Huitfeldt is equipped with a multi-missile vertical launch system (VLS) for Sea Sparrow missiles (ESSM) and SM-2 IIIA missiles which are still under development. It is also armed with a Harpoon Block II anti-ship missile system and a Eurotorp MU90 light torpedo fired from a double or triple torpedo launcher. For air transport or anti- submarine warfare, Iver Huitfeldt is equipped with a helicopter deck and a medium- sized helicopter hangar. The bridge can also handle larger and heavier helicopters up to 20 tons.
