Indonesia Strengthen Air and Sea Defense

Indonesia continues to strengthen its maritime defense capabilities in the Western region, which includes the South China Sea with the launch of two new Navy patrol boats in Batam.

The Chief of Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut (TNI AL - Indonesia Navy) Admiral Ade Supandi announced that new patrol boats - the KRI Torani 860 and KRI Lepu 861 - will be deployed with the Western Fleet to patrol the Strait of Malacca, as ordered by President Joko Widodo.
The Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait are among the world's busiest sea routes.

The TNI-AL now operates 19 patrol boats and plans to increase the number to 42 for deployment spread across its 14 naval bases.

A day earlier, the Indonesia Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara) announced plans to strengthen its aerial reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities by expanding its fleet of maritime patrol aircraft.

Lieutenant-Colonel Akal Juang briefed news reporters in Makassar, South Sulawesi that the air force will enhance it's support for naval operations against illegal fishing, smuggling and border incursions.

The Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron currently has five military aircraft with high-resolution cameras and other equipment for air reconnaissance missions. These are Boeing 737 MPA (four) and CN 235 MP (one).

TNI AU's F-16 and Hawk on static display at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Riau, on March 26. (Antara/Rony Muharrman)

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Recent Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Luat) Development

Submarine Force


On 24 March 2016, South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) launched the first of three diesel-electric submarines ordered by Indonesia. The 61 metres long DSME 1400 design or Chang Bogo-class is a development of the Type 209/1200 licensed to DSME by Germany's HDW (now ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems). Delivery is planned for March 2017. The third submarine will be built in Indonesia by the state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL.


The facility for building submarine in Surabaya, Indonesia is currently under construction and is expected to be finished in September 2016.


Fast Attack Craft

Indonesia has ordered a KCR-60M (Kapal Cepat Rudal 60 metre) Fast Attack Craft, missile (FAC-M). This is the fourth FAC-M of this class to be acquired by the Indonesian Navy. Delivery of the first three FAC-M was completed in Sep 2014. Back then, TNI-AL had expected to procure a fleet of at least 16 KCR-60M. This programme apparently took a back seat for the last few years to the Klewang-class stealth attack craft programme. The first of the 63 metres wave-piercing trimaran was launched in 2012 but was destroyed in a fire a month later. The replacement vessel was due to be delivered in early 2016 (total order for four vessels) but the programme was indefinitely suspended last year. The original plan was for a fleet of around 20 vessels to patrol the littoral waters of Indonesia.