PT PAL lays down first modified variant of Tarlac-class LPD for the Philippines

PT PAL officials making final checks ahead of the keel-laying ceremony for the third SSV that will be delivered to the Philippine Navy. (PT PAL)

Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL has laid down the keel for what will be the third landing platform dock (LPD)-like strategic sealift vessel (SSV) it will deliver to the Philippine Navy.

The keel was laid down on 22 January at the shipbuilder's facility at Surabaya, a representative from the shipbuilder told Janes on the same day.

Manila signed a follow-on contract for two more SSVs with PT PAL in June 2022. This contract represents a repeat order after PT PAL received a USD92 million contract in June 2014 for similar vessels, both of which are now in service as the Tarlac class.

First-of-class BRP Tarlac was commissioned in June 2016 while the second vessel, BRP Davao del Sur, was inducted in May 2017. Both vessels derive their main form factors from the 122–125 m multirole vessels that are in service with the Indonesian Navy, which are in turn based on a design from South Korean company Dae Sun Shipbuilding.