December 9, 2009: Indonesia has commissioned its first domestically built LPD (landing platform dock) amphibious ship. This is the third of four Makassar class ships. The first two were built in South Korea. The last two ships of the class are being built in Indonesia. Many of the components are being imported from South Korea. The design was based on an earlier, 16,000 ton, LPD South Korea built for Indonesia (which has since been converted into a hospital ship.)

The Makassar class ships displace 11,300 tons, have a crew of 126 and can carry up to 400 troops (normally 218 are carried). Several dozen vehicles can be carried, including armored ones (up to 13 tanks). Top speed is 28 kilometers an hour, while most economical speed is 21 kilometers an hour. Endurance is 30 days (or 18,000 kilometers). The ship carries two LCVP landing craft and five helicopters.

Weapons carried include a 40mm or 100mm gun, a 20mm anti-aircraft gun, several 12.7mm machine-guns and two Mistral anti-aircraft missile launchers (with a range of 5 kilometers).