Jakarta’s consideration of seven Chinese Type 053H frigates underscores Indonesia’s accelerating military cooperation with Beijing, following the landmark deal for 42 J-10B fighter jets — a move reshaping Southeast Asia’s naval balance. 
screenshot masterplan TNI AL (Ist)
During a national television broadcast, the spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence revealed that the government is evaluating the potential acquisition of seven Type 053H frigates from China as part of a wider modernization review of the Indonesian Navy’s fleet composition.
The revelation, which quickly gained traction across media and social platforms, sparked intense debate among regional defence observers regarding Jakarta’s maritime strategy, China’s influence in Southeast Asia, and the evolving balance of naval power across the Indo-Pacific.
Officials later clarified that the assessment remains at the internal review stage, with no binding agreement or delivery timeline established, suggesting that the proposal is currently undergoing feasibility evaluation rather than immediate procurement.
The ships under consideration—Type 053H frigates previously operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)—are being examined primarily for their suitability in training and patrol operations to complement Indonesia’s naval modernization roadmap.
A screenshot that circulated on October 22, 2025, appearing to show confirmation of the frigate purchase on the Ministry of Defence’s web portal, further amplified speculation, prompting public clarification that the page was not an official acquisition announcement but part of an ongoing technical review.
The possible acquisition of these frigates also reflects Jakarta’s growing defence cooperation with Beijing, which has expanded significantly in recent years through major arms transactions and strategic partnerships.
Just a few days ago, Indonesia reportedly agreed to acquire 42 Chengdu J-10B “Vigorous Dragon” multirole fighters from China, marking the single largest purchase of Chinese-made combat aircraft by a Southeast Asian nation.
The J-10B deal, estimated at more than USD 9 billion, symbolized a deepening of bilateral defence ties between Jakarta and Beijing, with provisions for local maintenance, pilot training, and technology support to the Indonesian Air Force.
In addition to the fighter jets, Indonesia has also sourced various Chinese-made weapon systems, radars, and ground-based air defence equipment, underscoring an evolving strategic alignment that extends beyond simple procurement into long-term defence-industrial collaboration.
These transactions collectively demonstrate Indonesia’s pragmatic approach toward diversifying its defence suppliers, balancing relationships between Western and Eastern partners while strengthening its indigenous defence industry under the “Minimum Essential Force” framework.
Strategic Evaluation Underway
The potential procurement of Chinese-built Type 053H frigates marks a significant signal of Indonesia’s pragmatic approach to fleet expansion amid mounting regional maritime security challenges.
While the ships in question belong to an older generation of PLAN vessels developed in the 1970s and 1980s, their proposed acquisition underscores Jakarta’s intent to rapidly increase hull numbers to support both maritime domain awareness and operational presence across its vast archipelagic waters.
The Type 053H, in its various iterations—including the later 053H2 and 053H3 variants—was historically the backbone of the Chinese Navy’s frigate fleet before being replaced by the more advanced Type 054A and Type 054B classes.
These frigates, typically displacing around 2,000 tons, are equipped with anti-ship missiles, naval guns, and basic air-defence systems, offering moderate endurance suitable for coastal patrols, surface warfare training, and fleet support missions.
If transferred to Indonesia, the ships would likely undergo partial refurbishment, particularly in the areas of propulsion, radar, and combat management systems, to align with current operational standards and ensure a degree of compatibility with Indonesia’s increasingly digitalized naval infrastructure.
However, the logistical implications of integrating Chinese-made platforms into a fleet already populated by Western, Turkish, and domestically built vessels cannot be understated.
Indonesia’s naval inventory currently spans an eclectic mix of designs and systems—from British-built corvettes and Dutch-designed SIGMA-class frigates to Turkish ISTIF-class frigates and Italian PPA-class multipurpose ships—each employing distinct engineering, electronics, and weapons architectures.
Introducing the Type 053H, with its unique Chinese standards and propulsion systems, would demand a tailored maintenance ecosystem, additional training regimens, and dedicated spare-part supply chains, potentially increasing long-term sustainment costs.
Naval Modernization Within the 'MEF'
Indonesia’s naval modernization campaign, intensified since the early 2020s, is guided by the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) doctrine, which seeks to establish a credible deterrent capability and ensure maritime control across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands and three primary sea lanes of communication (SLOCs).
The doctrine envisions a multi-tiered force structure that balances high-end, technologically advanced assets with cost-effective secondary platforms to ensure persistent presence and surveillance coverage throughout the archipelago.
Recent acquisitions, such as the two Italian-built PPA-class frigates KRI Brawijaya (320) and KRI Prabu Siliwangi (321), exemplify Indonesia’s investment in cutting-edge warships capable of anti-air, anti-submarine, and surface warfare.
Parallel to this, Indonesia’s collaboration with Turkey has yielded the Istif-class frigate program, while domestic shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia continues to develop the Fregat Merah Putih line, an indigenous initiative aimed at strengthening local shipbuilding capabilities and reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.
In this context, the potential inclusion of seven Type 053H frigates from China could serve as an interim solution to bolster patrol and training capacities without diverting funds from flagship modernization programs.
Such a move would also complement Indonesia’s efforts to maintain continuous maritime presence in lower-threat zones, such as the Java Sea and Makassar Strait, while redeploying its modern frigates and corvettes to more contested regions like the Natuna Sea and eastern approaches near the South China Sea.
Strengthening Ties With Beijing
Type 053H frigates
From a strategic perspective, the possible transfer of Type 053H frigates would reflect both Indonesia’s pragmatic procurement policy and Beijing’s sustained push to expand its defence exports and maritime influence in Southeast Asia.
China has long sought to strengthen its defence relationship with Indonesia through a combination of hardware sales, training exchanges, and industrial partnerships.
In the past two decades, Jakarta has procured Chinese C-705 and C-802 anti-ship missiles for integration into its coastal defence and naval platforms, along with rocket artillery systems and limited radar cooperation.
In 2024, discussions reportedly included potential technology transfers in unmanned systems and shipbuilding automation, signalling Beijing’s intent to position itself as a key defence partner for Indonesia’s maritime expansion.
This dynamic, however, unfolds amid a delicate geopolitical landscape defined by competing power projections in the Indo-Pacific.
Indonesia, while maintaining a non-aligned foreign policy, is increasingly compelled to balance relationships between major powers—particularly as tensions between China and the United States intensify over the South China Sea, Taiwan, and freedom of navigation operations.
The Natuna Islands, located at the southern edge of the South China Sea, remain a flashpoint where Indonesian patrols frequently encounter Chinese fishing and coast guard vessels operating within Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Acquiring Chinese-built naval platforms, therefore, introduces a nuanced diplomatic calculus: while it may enhance naval capacity, it also risks perceptions of strategic dependency or mixed signalling among Indonesia’s Western and regional partners, including Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Operational and Logistical Considerations
Operationally, the Type 053H class offers basic yet proven capabilities that could provide valuable support in peacetime operations such as search and rescue, maritime policing, and joint training exercises.
The ships’ modest displacement and endurance make them suitable for coastal defence roles, escort duties, and anti-piracy missions—missions that continue to be relevant across Indonesia’s vast maritime zones.
However, their limited anti-air warfare (AAW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems would restrict their combat effectiveness in high-threat environments against modern adversaries equipped with long-range missiles or stealthy submarines.
For this reason, analysts view the frigates primarily as “stop-gap” or secondary assets that could alleviate operational strain on newer, high-value warships.
Their integration could free up advanced frigates for forward-deployed missions in contested areas, while the refurbished Chinese hulls assume lower-intensity duties closer to home waters.
This approach aligns with Indonesia’s broader naval strategy of “distributed lethality,” which seeks to enhance maritime resilience through a diversified fleet capable of both deterrence and presence operations.
Economically, the cost factor may be decisive in determining the feasibility of the acquisition.
Compared to commissioning new frigates, the procurement of refurbished Type 053H vessels would offer significant savings—potentially allowing Indonesia to reallocate funds toward indigenous programs or advanced weapon systems.
If the transfer includes refurbishment, technology support, and training packages, it could also serve as a low-cost pathway for naval personnel development, particularly in engineering, navigation, and command training for mid-level officers.
Moreover, the acquisition could provide an opportunity for PT PAL and local industries to gain experience in retrofitting and upgrading older foreign vessels, strengthening Indonesia’s capacity for maintenance and modernization of mixed-origin fleets.
Nevertheless, technical challenges remain formidable.
The ships’ original propulsion systems—primarily Chinese-built diesel engines—are aging and may require complete overhaul or replacement to meet operational reliability standards.
Electronic suites, including fire-control radars and communication systems, would likely need modernization to ensure network compatibility with Indonesia’s command-and-control architecture.
Without substantial upgrades, interoperability with Indonesia’s Western-built vessels, which rely on NATO-standard communication protocols and sensors, could be severely limited.
Hence, any acquisition would likely involve a layered modernization plan encompassing propulsion, combat management, radar, and armament integration, potentially transforming the vessels into cost-effective workhorses suitable for patrol and secondary missions.
Indonesia’s Maritime Balance in a Changing Region
The broader implication of the potential frigate purchase lies in its symbolism within the evolving Indonesia–China defence relationship.
While Jakarta remains committed to strategic autonomy, its deepening cooperation with Beijing highlights the dual-track approach of leveraging multiple defence partnerships to meet its force structure goals.
At the same time, this potential deal underscores China’s role as an increasingly competitive supplier of affordable naval platforms across the Global South—part of a broader trend where Beijing seeks to counter Western defence export dominance through cost-effective and politically flexible packages.
Should the plan materialize, Indonesia would join a growing list of countries—including Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Myanmar—that have incorporated Chinese-built frigates into their fleets, each adapting them for national requirements.
For China, such transfers serve not only as commercial transactions but as strategic tools to build long-term defence dependencies and expand its footprint in key maritime regions.
For Indonesia, the calculus is more practical: augmenting naval capacity in a cost-effective manner while sustaining diplomatic balance between major powers.
In conclusion, Indonesia’s exploration of the Type 053H frigate acquisition reflects a broader strategic reality—an archipelagic nation striving to balance capability, cost, and sovereignty in a turbulent Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
Whether the proposal evolves into a finalized contract or remains an internal study, it underscores Jakarta’s determination to accelerate fleet expansion and secure its maritime borders amid escalating regional tensions.
If approved, the move would reinforce Indonesia’s naval presence, enhance training and patrol capabilities, and strengthen its long-term deterrent posture—though at the expense of introducing new logistical and interoperability challenges.
Ultimately, the evaluation of the Type 053H frigates is less about acquiring obsolete hulls and more about sustaining momentum in Indonesia’s long-term maritime transformation—an effort that continues to shape the balance of naval power across Southeast Asia. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA
screenshot masterplan TNI AL (Ist)During a national television broadcast, the spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence revealed that the government is evaluating the potential acquisition of seven Type 053H frigates from China as part of a wider modernization review of the Indonesian Navy’s fleet composition.
The revelation, which quickly gained traction across media and social platforms, sparked intense debate among regional defence observers regarding Jakarta’s maritime strategy, China’s influence in Southeast Asia, and the evolving balance of naval power across the Indo-Pacific.
Officials later clarified that the assessment remains at the internal review stage, with no binding agreement or delivery timeline established, suggesting that the proposal is currently undergoing feasibility evaluation rather than immediate procurement.
The ships under consideration—Type 053H frigates previously operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)—are being examined primarily for their suitability in training and patrol operations to complement Indonesia’s naval modernization roadmap.
A screenshot that circulated on October 22, 2025, appearing to show confirmation of the frigate purchase on the Ministry of Defence’s web portal, further amplified speculation, prompting public clarification that the page was not an official acquisition announcement but part of an ongoing technical review.
The possible acquisition of these frigates also reflects Jakarta’s growing defence cooperation with Beijing, which has expanded significantly in recent years through major arms transactions and strategic partnerships.
Just a few days ago, Indonesia reportedly agreed to acquire 42 Chengdu J-10B “Vigorous Dragon” multirole fighters from China, marking the single largest purchase of Chinese-made combat aircraft by a Southeast Asian nation.
The J-10B deal, estimated at more than USD 9 billion, symbolized a deepening of bilateral defence ties between Jakarta and Beijing, with provisions for local maintenance, pilot training, and technology support to the Indonesian Air Force.
In addition to the fighter jets, Indonesia has also sourced various Chinese-made weapon systems, radars, and ground-based air defence equipment, underscoring an evolving strategic alignment that extends beyond simple procurement into long-term defence-industrial collaboration.
These transactions collectively demonstrate Indonesia’s pragmatic approach toward diversifying its defence suppliers, balancing relationships between Western and Eastern partners while strengthening its indigenous defence industry under the “Minimum Essential Force” framework.
Strategic Evaluation Underway
The potential procurement of Chinese-built Type 053H frigates marks a significant signal of Indonesia’s pragmatic approach to fleet expansion amid mounting regional maritime security challenges.
While the ships in question belong to an older generation of PLAN vessels developed in the 1970s and 1980s, their proposed acquisition underscores Jakarta’s intent to rapidly increase hull numbers to support both maritime domain awareness and operational presence across its vast archipelagic waters.
The Type 053H, in its various iterations—including the later 053H2 and 053H3 variants—was historically the backbone of the Chinese Navy’s frigate fleet before being replaced by the more advanced Type 054A and Type 054B classes.
These frigates, typically displacing around 2,000 tons, are equipped with anti-ship missiles, naval guns, and basic air-defence systems, offering moderate endurance suitable for coastal patrols, surface warfare training, and fleet support missions.
If transferred to Indonesia, the ships would likely undergo partial refurbishment, particularly in the areas of propulsion, radar, and combat management systems, to align with current operational standards and ensure a degree of compatibility with Indonesia’s increasingly digitalized naval infrastructure.
However, the logistical implications of integrating Chinese-made platforms into a fleet already populated by Western, Turkish, and domestically built vessels cannot be understated.
Indonesia’s naval inventory currently spans an eclectic mix of designs and systems—from British-built corvettes and Dutch-designed SIGMA-class frigates to Turkish ISTIF-class frigates and Italian PPA-class multipurpose ships—each employing distinct engineering, electronics, and weapons architectures.
Introducing the Type 053H, with its unique Chinese standards and propulsion systems, would demand a tailored maintenance ecosystem, additional training regimens, and dedicated spare-part supply chains, potentially increasing long-term sustainment costs.
Naval Modernization Within the 'MEF'
Indonesia’s naval modernization campaign, intensified since the early 2020s, is guided by the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) doctrine, which seeks to establish a credible deterrent capability and ensure maritime control across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands and three primary sea lanes of communication (SLOCs).
The doctrine envisions a multi-tiered force structure that balances high-end, technologically advanced assets with cost-effective secondary platforms to ensure persistent presence and surveillance coverage throughout the archipelago.
Recent acquisitions, such as the two Italian-built PPA-class frigates KRI Brawijaya (320) and KRI Prabu Siliwangi (321), exemplify Indonesia’s investment in cutting-edge warships capable of anti-air, anti-submarine, and surface warfare.
Parallel to this, Indonesia’s collaboration with Turkey has yielded the Istif-class frigate program, while domestic shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia continues to develop the Fregat Merah Putih line, an indigenous initiative aimed at strengthening local shipbuilding capabilities and reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.
In this context, the potential inclusion of seven Type 053H frigates from China could serve as an interim solution to bolster patrol and training capacities without diverting funds from flagship modernization programs.
Such a move would also complement Indonesia’s efforts to maintain continuous maritime presence in lower-threat zones, such as the Java Sea and Makassar Strait, while redeploying its modern frigates and corvettes to more contested regions like the Natuna Sea and eastern approaches near the South China Sea.
Strengthening Ties With Beijing
Type 053H frigatesFrom a strategic perspective, the possible transfer of Type 053H frigates would reflect both Indonesia’s pragmatic procurement policy and Beijing’s sustained push to expand its defence exports and maritime influence in Southeast Asia.
China has long sought to strengthen its defence relationship with Indonesia through a combination of hardware sales, training exchanges, and industrial partnerships.
In the past two decades, Jakarta has procured Chinese C-705 and C-802 anti-ship missiles for integration into its coastal defence and naval platforms, along with rocket artillery systems and limited radar cooperation.
In 2024, discussions reportedly included potential technology transfers in unmanned systems and shipbuilding automation, signalling Beijing’s intent to position itself as a key defence partner for Indonesia’s maritime expansion.
This dynamic, however, unfolds amid a delicate geopolitical landscape defined by competing power projections in the Indo-Pacific.
Indonesia, while maintaining a non-aligned foreign policy, is increasingly compelled to balance relationships between major powers—particularly as tensions between China and the United States intensify over the South China Sea, Taiwan, and freedom of navigation operations.
The Natuna Islands, located at the southern edge of the South China Sea, remain a flashpoint where Indonesian patrols frequently encounter Chinese fishing and coast guard vessels operating within Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Acquiring Chinese-built naval platforms, therefore, introduces a nuanced diplomatic calculus: while it may enhance naval capacity, it also risks perceptions of strategic dependency or mixed signalling among Indonesia’s Western and regional partners, including Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Operational and Logistical Considerations
Operationally, the Type 053H class offers basic yet proven capabilities that could provide valuable support in peacetime operations such as search and rescue, maritime policing, and joint training exercises.
The ships’ modest displacement and endurance make them suitable for coastal defence roles, escort duties, and anti-piracy missions—missions that continue to be relevant across Indonesia’s vast maritime zones.
However, their limited anti-air warfare (AAW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems would restrict their combat effectiveness in high-threat environments against modern adversaries equipped with long-range missiles or stealthy submarines.
For this reason, analysts view the frigates primarily as “stop-gap” or secondary assets that could alleviate operational strain on newer, high-value warships.
Their integration could free up advanced frigates for forward-deployed missions in contested areas, while the refurbished Chinese hulls assume lower-intensity duties closer to home waters.
This approach aligns with Indonesia’s broader naval strategy of “distributed lethality,” which seeks to enhance maritime resilience through a diversified fleet capable of both deterrence and presence operations.
Economically, the cost factor may be decisive in determining the feasibility of the acquisition.
Compared to commissioning new frigates, the procurement of refurbished Type 053H vessels would offer significant savings—potentially allowing Indonesia to reallocate funds toward indigenous programs or advanced weapon systems.
If the transfer includes refurbishment, technology support, and training packages, it could also serve as a low-cost pathway for naval personnel development, particularly in engineering, navigation, and command training for mid-level officers.
Moreover, the acquisition could provide an opportunity for PT PAL and local industries to gain experience in retrofitting and upgrading older foreign vessels, strengthening Indonesia’s capacity for maintenance and modernization of mixed-origin fleets.
Nevertheless, technical challenges remain formidable.
The ships’ original propulsion systems—primarily Chinese-built diesel engines—are aging and may require complete overhaul or replacement to meet operational reliability standards.
Electronic suites, including fire-control radars and communication systems, would likely need modernization to ensure network compatibility with Indonesia’s command-and-control architecture.
Without substantial upgrades, interoperability with Indonesia’s Western-built vessels, which rely on NATO-standard communication protocols and sensors, could be severely limited.
Hence, any acquisition would likely involve a layered modernization plan encompassing propulsion, combat management, radar, and armament integration, potentially transforming the vessels into cost-effective workhorses suitable for patrol and secondary missions.
Indonesia’s Maritime Balance in a Changing Region
The broader implication of the potential frigate purchase lies in its symbolism within the evolving Indonesia–China defence relationship.
While Jakarta remains committed to strategic autonomy, its deepening cooperation with Beijing highlights the dual-track approach of leveraging multiple defence partnerships to meet its force structure goals.
At the same time, this potential deal underscores China’s role as an increasingly competitive supplier of affordable naval platforms across the Global South—part of a broader trend where Beijing seeks to counter Western defence export dominance through cost-effective and politically flexible packages.
Should the plan materialize, Indonesia would join a growing list of countries—including Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Myanmar—that have incorporated Chinese-built frigates into their fleets, each adapting them for national requirements.
For China, such transfers serve not only as commercial transactions but as strategic tools to build long-term defence dependencies and expand its footprint in key maritime regions.
For Indonesia, the calculus is more practical: augmenting naval capacity in a cost-effective manner while sustaining diplomatic balance between major powers.
In conclusion, Indonesia’s exploration of the Type 053H frigate acquisition reflects a broader strategic reality—an archipelagic nation striving to balance capability, cost, and sovereignty in a turbulent Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
Whether the proposal evolves into a finalized contract or remains an internal study, it underscores Jakarta’s determination to accelerate fleet expansion and secure its maritime borders amid escalating regional tensions.
If approved, the move would reinforce Indonesia’s naval presence, enhance training and patrol capabilities, and strengthen its long-term deterrent posture—though at the expense of introducing new logistical and interoperability challenges.
Ultimately, the evaluation of the Type 053H frigates is less about acquiring obsolete hulls and more about sustaining momentum in Indonesia’s long-term maritime transformation—an effort that continues to shape the balance of naval power across Southeast Asia. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA
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