Makassar-Class BAP Paita Landing Platform Dock Ship Handed Over to Boost Peruvian Naval Capabilities.

On July 27, 2025, the Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL officially transferred the first Makassar-class landing platform dock (LPD), BAP Paita (AMP-157), to the Peruvian Navy, marking a major development in Peru’s maritime defense strategy. The ceremony, held at PT PAL’s shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia, follows the 2021 contract agreement signed between Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense and Peru’s Ministry of Defense, covering the construction, outfitting, and delivery of a complete amphibious assault vessel based on Indonesia’s proven Makassar-class design. This acquisition is part of a broader effort by the Peruvian government to modernize its naval capabilities and expand its role in regional security and humanitarian operations.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

BAP Paita (AMP-157), Peru’s first Makassar-class landing platform dock, delivered by Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL, enhances the Peruvian Navy’s capacity for amphibious operations, disaster relief, and maritime logistics with a 7,300-ton displacement, helicopter facilities, and a well deck for landing craft deployment. (Picture source: SA_Defensa X account)

The Makassar-class LPD is a modern, multi-role amphibious warfare platform originally developed through a technology transfer program between South Korea’s Daesun Shipbuilding and Indonesia’s PT PAL. The design is based on the South Korean Navy’s LPDs, themselves evolved from Daesun’s earlier Tanjung Dalpele-class, and has since been customized for export customers in Asia and Latin America. Since its introduction, the class has served as the backbone of Indonesia’s amphibious and maritime logistics capabilities, with five vessels currently in service with the Indonesian Navy and additional units exported to the Philippine Navy. The Peruvian Navy becomes the latest operator of this class, marking the first export of the Makassar design to South America.

Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) are a category of amphibious warfare ships designed to transport troops, vehicles, landing craft, and helicopters for deployment in amphibious assaults, humanitarian missions, and joint maritime operations. These vessels feature a well deck for launching amphibious craft directly from the sea and a flight deck to support rotary-wing aircraft operations, providing critical flexibility for naval forces to project power ashore without relying on established port infrastructure. LPDs serve as vital assets for modern navies by combining sea lift capacity, command-and-control capabilities, and modular mission adaptability, making them essential for both combat and peacetime operations such as disaster relief, peacekeeping support, and regional presence patrols.

The Peruvian version of the Makassar-class retains the core structural and operational characteristics of the original platform while incorporating specific adaptations to meet Peru’s operational doctrine and geographical needs. The BAP Paita features a full-load displacement of approximately 7,300 tons, with an overall length of 122 meters and a beam of 22 meters. It is capable of transporting more than 500 marines, along with 15 to 20 armored vehicles, and multiple landing craft utility (LCU) or landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP). The vessel is equipped with a helicopter flight deck and hangar that can support up to three medium helicopters, facilitating aerial deployment, surveillance, and medical evacuation tasks.

The ship includes a well deck, enabling the launch and recovery of amphibious craft while underway, and a command-and-control center designed for joint task force coordination or inter-agency missions. It is also configured with modular spaces that can be converted into medical zones or logistic support hubs, making the ship adaptable to both military operations and humanitarian missions. These capabilities provide Peru with a new level of maritime projection and flexibility, whether in response to natural disasters along its seismically active coast or in support of regional stability operations.

The defense contract for the BAP Paita was concluded in November 2021 after a comprehensive evaluation process. The Peruvian Ministry of Defense selected the Makassar-class design over competing offers from Europe and Latin America due to its proven performance, favorable cost, and PT PAL’s ability to deliver full-cycle support including construction, training, and post-delivery services. Although the precise value of the agreement has not been officially disclosed, defense industry estimates place it between $60 million and $70 million, significantly below comparable Western platforms in the same category.

The delivery of the BAP Paita comes at a time when the Peruvian Navy is undergoing an ambitious fleet renewal effort under the “Plan Estratégico Institucional 2021–2035.” This national maritime strategy calls for the gradual replacement of aging platforms, acquisition of new surface combatants, and reinforcement of the Navy’s ability to respond to both national emergencies and international missions. The BAP Paita will play a central role in these objectives by enhancing the Navy’s amphibious mobility, increasing logistical self-sufficiency, and enabling integrated operations with allied navies.

Future cooperation between Peru and PT PAL remains a strategic possibility, with informal discussions reported regarding additional amphibious vessels or future co-production arrangements involving Peruvian shipyards. The successful construction and delivery of the BAP Paita reinforce PT PAL’s position as a reliable international shipbuilder and illustrate the viability of South-South defense partnerships. With this acquisition, Peru now joins a growing list of regional powers adopting the Makassar-class as a cost-effective and capable platform for 21st-century maritime operations.