Malaysian Media Highlights Indonesia's Plan to Acquire Turkish Destroyers
Malaysian media has picked up on Indonesia's plan to buy TF-2000-class destroyers made by Turkey under President Prabowo's administration. The ship is projected to be the main escort for Indonesia's future drone carrier, and also a symbol of Jakarta's maritime power transformation. Previously, Indonesia had acquired two I-class frigates from Turkey, sparking strategic debates about the foundation of an integrated blue-water navy.
Blue-water navy refers to the ability of a navy to operate independently in deep waters, far from shore, with big ships like aircraft carriers, destroyers, and long-range submarines. The frigate deal worth around US$1 billion through Barzan Holdings marked the first export of Turkey's MILGEM ship family and strengthened the defense industry ties between Ankara and Jakarta.
The 3,000-ton I-class frigate is designed for multi-purpose missions: anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare, more flexible than the Ada-class corvettes. The ship serves as a building block for a larger task force, a prerequisite before operating an independent aircraft carrier. Talks about the TF-2000 destroyer emerged due to the urgent need for strong air defense assets, even though no official announcement has been made yet.
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