UK Firms Eye £2bn Indonesia Maritime Deal as Babcock Opens Supply Chain
Babcock International Group has thrown open the doors to UK businesses, inviting them to bid for a slice of Indonesia’s £2bn Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP) as the defence contractor ramps up its supply chain engagement in London.
The MPP, launched in Jakarta in April 2026, is not merely about shipbuilding. According to Babcock’s CEO Harry Holt, the initiative is a long-term play to foster skills development, technology transfer, and economic growth in both nations. “The programme is about more than ships,” Holt said. “It is about building long-term industrial partnerships, developing skills, supporting technology transfer and creating economic opportunities across both nations.”
Recent agreements under the MPP include shipbuilding collaboration, naval technology development, and university partnerships, alongside scholarship programmes designed to bolster Indonesia’s domestic capabilities.
Babcock’s Role as Lead Industrial Partner
As the lead industrial partner for the MPP, Babcock is leveraging its expertise in complex programme delivery to orchestrate the supply chain. The company’s recent supplier engagement events in New Zealand and Australia have already demonstrated its commitment to integrating local businesses into global defence and maritime programmes. In the UK, Babcock’s newly launched SME Engagement Charter aims to simplify access for smaller firms, ensuring they can compete for contracts within the defence sector.
Holt was unequivocal about the strategic importance of the MPP. “Strong partnerships are essential to delivering growth, innovation and capability,” he said. “This Supplier Day demonstrates the momentum behind the Maritime Partnership Programme and our commitment to ensuring UK industry plays a meaningful role in its success.” The event also underscored the broader geopolitical stakes.
For UK suppliers, the message was clear: the MPP is not a one-off deal but a long-term platform for collaboration. Babcock’s vision extends beyond the Arrowhead 140 frigates, with the company positioning the programme as a repeatable model for international defence partnerships.
“Strong partnerships are essential to delivering growth, innovation and capability. This Supplier Day demonstrates the momentum behind the Maritime Partnership Programme and our commitment to ensuring UK industry plays a meaningful role in its success.”
Harry Holt·Group CEO, Babcock International Group
“The programme is about more than ships. It is about building long-term industrial partnerships, developing skills, supporting technology transfer and creating economic opportunities across both nations.”
Harry Holt·Group CEO, Babcock International Group
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