VESSEL REVIEW | Golok – Indonesian Navy’s locally built stealth attack trimaran

Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder Lundin Industry Invest has delivered a new fast attack trimaran craft to the Indonesian Navy.

The future KRI Golok, named after a traditional Indonesian bladed weapon, is a Klewang-class stealth trimaran designed according to DNV’s Patrol Boat (Hull) rules. The ship has an LOA of 62.53 metres, a beam of 16 metres, a draught of 1.2 metres, and a displacement of 245 tonnes.

Four MAN V12 diesel engines that each produce 1,350 kW drive a quartet of Marine Jet Power MJP 550 waterjets to propel Golok to a maximum speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots. At the latter speed setting, the trimaran can sail up to 3,700 kilometres in between refuelings.

The vessel will be used mainly in the precision strike role wherein it will launch anti-ship missiles against targets up to 35 kilometres away. A 30-millimetre close-in weapon system (CIWS) will also be available for point defence against low-flying aircraft and anti-ship missiles.

The wave-piercing trimaran design helps reduce pitching and rolling, making the ship a highly stable weapons platform even under adverse weather conditions. The low-observable hull design meanwhile incorporates features that can minimise the possibility of detection by reducing the ship’s radar, infrared, acoustic, and magnetic signatures.

Stealth properties are further improved as there are no reverse-angle bow overhangs to reflect radar signals, as seen on conventional hull forms. Also, all weaponry will be discreetly concealed or shaped to meld into the superstructure profile.

Other missions will include patrols of waters within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone, anti-piracy, search and rescue (SAR), and surveillance.

Up to 29 crewmembers and additional personnel can be accommodated on board. The additional personnel may include special operations forces, as the trimaran was also designed to be operated in the special operations insertion and extraction roles. For carrying out such missions, the vessel is equipped with a launch and recovery system for one 11-metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB). The wide decks also provide ample space for a utility and surveillance helicopter to augment the ship’s patrol capability.

The vessel’s electrical power is supplied by three 135kW generator sets. The firefighting equipment consists of a Coldcut COBRA water mist system, a fixed FiFi2 CO2 system in the engine compartments, and handheld extinguishers. In the event of an evacuation, liferafts are available on board.

Golok is the second and final Klewang-class trimaran to be built, as well as the only example of the class currently in existence after the class lead ship, KRI Klewang, was destroyed by fire while it was still undergoing fitting out in September 2012. The new trimaran is undergoing further testing, though its date of delivery to the navy has not yet been announced.

See all the other news, reviews and features of this month’s Maritime Security Week right here.