Babcock inks agreement for Arrowhead 140 frigates under Indonesia’s £4 billion MPP

Defense giant Babcock has secured the first agreement under the £4 billion Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP) with Indonesia, for the sale of two Arrowhead 140 frigate licences, to be delivered over the coming months.

As disclosed, the company signed a Letter of Intent outlining Indonesia’s broader procurement plans for the MPP. The deal builds on the earlier export of two Arrowhead 140 licences in 2021, reinforcing Babcock’s ongoing role in Indonesia’s naval modernization.

The announcement underpins the growing momentum of the frigate exports and comes just weeks after the first ship, in the Merah Putih frigate class program, undertook its initial launch in Indonesia.    

The Letter of Intent, which paves the way for further agreements, was recently signed on behalf of Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto and CEO of Babcock, David Lockwood, and follows the landmark MPP that was announced in November 2025 between Babcock and the Indonesian Government to jointly develop maritime capability for Indonesia’s navy.

“I met with the CEO of Babcock. We are pleased to proceed with the maritime partnership. I think this is very important and strategic for Indonesia. This is a vital part of our maritime economic development,” Subianto said.

“The Maritime Partnership Programme between Babcock and Indonesia is focused on advancing Indonesia’s defence and maritime capabilities, infrastructure and supply chain, while creating jobs and prosperity for local communities,” Lockwood noted.

“This first work order, within this landmark framework, signals the importance of the pace and progress needed to deliver President Prabowo Subianto’s maritime transformation and underpins the growing success of our Arrowhead 140 export design,” he concluded.