Built by Kalskrona Varvet and ordered in 1976, this class replaced the Perkasa-class squadron on a 1:1 basis, including name transfer.

One of the class' ships, KD Pendekar, capsized off the coast of Johor after it hit an underwater object on the 25th of August 2024.

[2] The Handalans are equipped with longer-range diesel engines and an additional weapons fit with launchers for Exocet MM38 missiles and a secondary Bofors 40 mm gun.

With a data-link communications system, the class allows the exchange of information through computers with similar equipment, both other ships and shore-based stations.

[4][5] On 25 August 2024, KD Pendekar struck a submerged object and sank in the South China Sea two nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) southeast of Tanjung Penyusop in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia.