Jakarta is preparing to welcome two powerful warships later this week — one from the United Kingdom and one from Spain. These visits are part of Operation Highmast 2025, an ongoing naval mission in the Indo-Pacific region led by the Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
Jakarta to Host Two Warships as Part of Operation Highmast 2025
The Royal Navy will send HMS Richmond, a British warship known for its anti-submarine capabilities, to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 25. Just two days later, on Friday, the Spanish Navy’s Mendez Nunez will also dock and host an open ship event, giving visitors a rare chance to step aboard a foreign military vessel.
This visit highlights growing cooperation between international naval forces in the Indo-Pacific. Both ships are part of a larger group of vessels supporting the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, which is currently deployed across the region.
This is not the first time HMS Richmond has visited Jakarta. The same ship docked in Tanjung Priok Port back on May 22, 2011, during another deployment in Southeast Asia. Now, more than a decade later, the ship is returning as part of a larger and more coordinated naval presence.
HMS Richmond: A Veteran Frigate Returns to Jakarta
HMS Richmond is a Type 23 frigate, designed mainly for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). She was launched on April 6, 1993, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on June 22, 1995. This makes her one of the more experienced ships still serving in the fleet. The Royal Navy originally ordered 16 Type 23 frigates, but only eight remain in active service.
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The Royal Navy decommissioned the other eight frigates. Interestingly, it also sold three additional Type 23 frigates—all ASW variants like HMS Richmond—to the Chilean Navy. Swan Hunter Shipbuilders in Wallsend, England, built HMS Richmond as part of a group of four Type 23 frigates. Marconi Marine (Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited) in Glasgow, Scotland, constructed the remaining twelve.
The ship’s specifications are impressive:
- Length: 133 meters
- Beam (width): 16.1 meters
- Draft (depth below waterline): 7.3 meters
Type 23 frigates come in two main types — General Purpose (GP) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). HMS Richmond falls into the second category, making her especially skilled at detecting and combating enemy submarines. This ability is essential when working alongside aircraft carriers like HMS Prince of Wales, which require strong underwater protection during deployments.
Spanish Navy’s Mendez Nunez Joins the Mission
Joining the British frigate is the Spanish Navy’s Mendez Nunez, another capable warship that will arrive in Jakarta later this week. The ship will be open to the public on Friday, allowing civilians a close-up look at Spanish naval technology and crew operations.
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Mendez Nunez is a part of Spain’s contribution to joint naval efforts in the Indo-Pacific region. Like HMS Richmond, this frigate plays a role in supporting the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, which consists of multiple vessels working together to conduct naval diplomacy, training, and operational patrols.
The arrival of these two foreign warships in Jakarta is a part of their broader deployment across the Indo-Pacific, under the coordinated efforts of Operation Highmast 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and ensure stable naval presence across key regions.
Residents of Jakarta and maritime observers alike will get a rare opportunity to witness high-level naval assets from two European nations visiting the same port in one week. The Prince of Wales CSG’s presence reflects the ongoing strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific by several Western naval powers.
This week’s events are expected to draw attention from both local and international media, as well as naval enthusiasts. The open ship on Friday provides an added bonus for the public to experience part of this important naval deployment up close.