The head of Technology and Defence Industry Directorate of Indonesian Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Jan Pieter Ate revealed that the Indonesian military has ordered a prototype Fire Support Vessel AKA "Tank Boat" by PT. Pindad an d PT. Lundin Industry. The prototype will undergo operational test and evaluation (OT&E) before being accepted for production. It is not clear whether the vessel will be operated by which service, the army,navy or the marines.
The X-18 Fire Support Vessel (FSV) will be tested for coastal and riverine operations. The 18m 4-men crew catamaran will be propelled by two waterjets that push the vessel to a maximum speed of 40 knots.
The main armament is a Cockerill 105 mm hig pressure cannon, which is equivalent to the fire power of armoured tank. The main gun is complemented by SAAB's Battle Management System and its Trackfire Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) with a 7.62mm machine gun. The FSV will carry a rigid inflatable boat on the rear deck with room to carry 20 fully equipped troops.
The FSV could operate in shallow water around island chains, riverine deltas and the shallow seas off the coastlines. It 0.8 meter shallow draught and waterjet propulsion allow the FSV to operate in such environment without running aground or fouling its propulsion. A gyro stabilizer system will ensure that the vessel will not be thrusted back by the recoil of the main gun when it is fired. The vessel is expected to bob on the water instead.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly interested in ordering 100 vessels. The project was first reported in 2015.
Asian Defence & Technology
Popularmechanics
The X-18 Fire Support Vessel (FSV) will be tested for coastal and riverine operations. The 18m 4-men crew catamaran will be propelled by two waterjets that push the vessel to a maximum speed of 40 knots.
The main armament is a Cockerill 105 mm hig pressure cannon, which is equivalent to the fire power of armoured tank. The main gun is complemented by SAAB's Battle Management System and its Trackfire Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) with a 7.62mm machine gun. The FSV will carry a rigid inflatable boat on the rear deck with room to carry 20 fully equipped troops.
The FSV could operate in shallow water around island chains, riverine deltas and the shallow seas off the coastlines. It 0.8 meter shallow draught and waterjet propulsion allow the FSV to operate in such environment without running aground or fouling its propulsion. A gyro stabilizer system will ensure that the vessel will not be thrusted back by the recoil of the main gun when it is fired. The vessel is expected to bob on the water instead.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly interested in ordering 100 vessels. The project was first reported in 2015.
Asian Defence & Technology
Popularmechanics
