PT PAL Officially Launches Landing Dock 603 Ordered by the Philippines, Completed in Just Six Months!
01/07/2026

Photo : Keris Reborn
SURABAYA —
PT PAL Indonesia has officially launched
LD-603, the first of two next-generation Landing Dock vessels ordered by the
Philippine Navy, marking another major milestone in Indonesia's growing defense export industry.
The launching ceremony was held on the evening of
30 June 2026 at
PT PAL's Orca Graving Dock in Surabaya. The event was attended by
Kaharuddin Djenod,
Jose Ma Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta,
Rommel P. Roldan, along with senior defense officials from both Indonesia and the Philippines.
Hull Completed in Just Six Months
LD-603 represents a significant achievement for PT PAL's shipbuilding capabilities. The vessel's hull was completed in
only six months through the implementation of the company's
Industrial Maritime 4.0 (IM4) manufacturing system, which integrates digitalized production processes, improved operational efficiency, and comprehensive quality control.
The adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies enabled PT PAL to accelerate construction while maintaining the stringent quality standards required by international defense customers.
Designed for Multi-Mission Operations
The
Future Landing Dock is the latest generation of amphibious support vessels designed to perform a wide range of military and humanitarian missions, including:
- Amphibious operations
- Troop and logistics transport
- Maritime security missions
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
Following its launch, LD-603 will undergo the outfitting phase, followed by
Harbour Acceptance Tests (HAT) and
Sea Acceptance Tests (SAT) before being officially delivered to the Philippine Navy later in
2026.
A Decade of Defense Cooperation
The new contract builds upon more than a decade of successful defense cooperation between PT PAL and the Philippine Navy.
Previously, PT PAL delivered:
- Two Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSVs)
- Multiple Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels
- A successful Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) program for BRP Tarlac (LD-601), which received a "Very Satisfactory" performance evaluation.
This strong track record has reinforced confidence in PT PAL as a long-term strategic partner supporting the modernization of the Philippine Navy.
Strengthening Philippine Maritime Capability
Flag Officer in Command
Vice Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta praised PT PAL's professionalism and emphasized that LD-603 will significantly enhance the Philippine Navy's capability to transport personnel, equipment, and logistics across the country's vast archipelagic territory.
He noted that the vessel will provide greater operational flexibility for amphibious operations, maritime security missions, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Meanwhile,
Lieutenant General Rommel P. Roldan, Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, described the acquisition as a strategic investment that will strengthen the country's maritime defense capabilities.
Once commissioned, LD-603 is expected to substantially improve the Philippine Navy's military sealift capability while supporting a broad range of strategic operations.
The successful launch further strengthens
PT PAL Indonesia's position as one of Southeast Asia's leading naval shipbuilders and demonstrates the growing competitiveness of Indonesia's defense industry in the international export market.
PT PAL Indonesia meluncurkan kapal Landing Dock LD-603 untuk Angkatan Laut Filipina. Kapal ini mendukung misi kemanusiaan dan logistik.
www.detik.com
Indonesia's PT PAL will launch the Philippine Navy's third landing platform dock (LPD)-like strategic sealift vessel (SSV) on 30 June, with the programme now back on...
www.janes.com
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PT PAL Brings More Than 100 Local Companies into Philippine Navy Ship Project
by
Poetra Nanggala
June 26, 2026
SURABAYA —
PT PAL Indonesia is leveraging its export contract for the
Landing Dock Platform (LDP) ordered by the
Philippine Navy to strengthen Indonesia's defense-industrial ecosystem, involving
more than 100 local companies in the construction of the first vessel.
The project extends beyond a major export achievement, serving as a catalyst for developing Indonesia's domestic defense supply chain and raising the capabilities of local industries to meet international standards.
Building a Strong Domestic Defense Supply Chain
PT PAL believes that developing a competitive national maritime and defense industry requires close collaboration between the prime contractor and supporting industries.
By engaging over 100 Indonesian suppliers across various industrial sectors, the company aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities while ensuring compliance with the stringent quality requirements of international defense programs.
Creating Opportunities for Local Industry
PT PAL Chief Technology & Procurement Officer
Briljan Gazalba said every international contract secured by the company should generate broader economic benefits for Indonesia's defense industry.
"When PT PAL earns the trust of international customers, that trust should be translated into opportunities for Indonesia's supporting industries to grow together. The more qualified local companies participate, the stronger the foundation of Indonesia's maritime and defense industry will become," Briljan said.
Gateway to the Global Market
According to PT PAL, the Philippine LDP project provides Indonesian suppliers with an opportunity to improve product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and compliance with international standards through continuous technical assistance and industrial collaboration.
The objective is to enable locally manufactured components not only to serve domestic demand but also to compete in global defense markets.
Wider Economic Impact
The company expects the export project to generate multiple long-term benefits for Indonesia's defense industry, including:
- Higher domestic content (TKDN) in naval defense platforms
- Job creation in manufacturing and engineering sectors
- Technology transfer
- Workforce skills development
- Greater international competitiveness for Indonesian defense manufacturers
As international confidence in Indonesian-built naval vessels continues to grow, PT PAL plans to use future export programs as a platform to integrate more local companies into the global defense supply chain, further strengthening the country's indigenous defense-industrial capabilities.
Source: Airspace Review
AIRSPACE REVIEW - Keberhasilan PT PAL Indonesia dalam memenangi kontrak ekspor kapal perang bukan sekadar prestasi di atas kertas atau
www.airspace-review.com