Forces

Nagapasa submarines

DSME executives with Indonesian navy personnel and representatives from PT PAL launching a Nagapasa submarine

On December 20, 2011 Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) signed a contract worth $ 1.08 billion to build three DSME 1400 submarines for the Indonesian fleet.

In April 2019 Indonesia signed a US$1.02 billion contract for a further three 1,400-ton submarines (DSME 1400 type) from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) is set to loan $1.2 billion to the Indonesian government in order to fund construction of the three Chang Bogo-class submarines, locally known as Nagapasa-class submarines.

The Ministry of Finance of Republic of Indonesia will receive the loan and finance PT-PAL, Indonesia's state-owned shipbuilder, which will construct the three new submarines.

Indonesian people thus pay for the submarines twice: once in a payment to DSME / Hanwha, and again in interest to the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

A DSME / Hanwha submarine on delivery in 2017

C705 missiles

Indonesian navy has purchased several types of missiles from China, including CASIC's C705. The missiles infamously failed to launch when tested during the 'Armada Jaya' naval exercises in September 2016. 

One of Indonesia's KCR-40 attack craft, the KRI Clurit, was unable to fire the C705 missile. 

Uzi

The Uzi submachine gun has been exported to over 90 countries. Over its service lifetime, it has been manufactured by Israel Military Industries, FN Herstal, and other manufacturers. From the 1960s through to the 1980s, more Uzi submachine guns were sold to military, law enforcement and security markets than any other submachine gun ever made.

Uzi's presence in Indonesia began with intelligence activities. Indonesia's nascent spy agency BAKIN was supported by Mossad (the Israeli Secret Service) which sent its instructors to Indonesia in 1968. This relationship has continued, not only with Mossad, but with the United States Intelligence Agency (CIA). In 1980, the CIA conducted five sessions of counter-terrorism training and VIP protection in Indonesia. To support Indonesia, the CIA connected the Indonesian Army and BAKIN with a US weapons factory located in Philadelphia. Uzis for Indonesia are sourced here, from factories licensed by IMI to sell Uzis in the United States.

Mossad and CIA instructors continue to support Indonesian intelligence agencies along with 'anti-terror' police unit D88, running training exercises at Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

The soldier second from right holds an Uzi

H225M Multirole Heavy Lift Troop Transporting Helicopter 

Indonesia has bought a total of 28 of H225M Multirole Helicopters from Airbus at a cost of $30 million per piece. The most recent order was in 2019. This is a ‘long range, tactical, heavy lift’ helicopter that can carry 28 passengers and crew.  These helicopters carry troops from major military bases into areas where West Papuan resistance is active, for instance into the highlands or, pictured here, to the island of Biak. The H225M is used by TNI AD and TNI AL special forces.

A helicopter that appears visually similar was photographed being used as part of an evacuation of civilians following conflict between militia groups and the Indonesian military in Kiwirok in September 2021.

ScanEagle UAV

ScanEagle UAV

The ScanEagle UAV is a small, long-endurance, low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by a subsidiary of Boeing called Insitu, and is used for reconnaissance. Indonesia ordered 8 ScanEagles in 2019 using 'Maritime Security Initiative' aid from the USA; the Boeing surveillance drones were effectively donated. 6 others were ordered for TNI-AL, and the Indonesian navy started receiving the drones from June 2021. The drones were unveiled during an inauguration ceremony for Skuadron Udara 100 (Aviation Squadron 100 - dedicated to anti-submarine helicopters) and Skuadron Udara 700 (Aviation Squadron 700 - maintenance of the Indonesian Navies fleet of both land-based and shipborne drones). 

Bell 412 helicopter

Bell 412 Helicopter

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter used for law enforcement, military and civilian purposes around the world. Nine were ordered by Indonesia in 2018. One was delivered in January 2021 and two more in July 2021. The helicopters are being built in the USA before being handed to Indonesian state-owned company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for customisations “including a Gatling-type gun from US-based company Dillon Aero”.

BTR-80A Amphibious Panzer

BTR-80A Amphibious Panzer

Indonesia purchased 12 BTR-80A vehicles in 2001 at a cost of $6.5 million for the Marines, aka KORMAR or Marinir.

Yakhont

The Yakhont is a ‘supersonic land attack cruise missile’, that can be fired from the air, land or at sea. This ‘fire and forget’ weapon was purchased for TNI-AL in 2011. It has a range of 300 kilometres.

Yakhont Missile from Tactical Missiles Corporation

BMP 3F Tanks

President Joko Widodo addressing the Marine Corps from a Russian BMP-3F tank

The BMP-3F IFV is equipped with a 100mm cannon-missile launcher, 30mm automatic cannon and 7.62mm machine gun integrated in a weapon station, as well as two 7.62mm hull machine guns.

Russian BMP 3F Marine Corps

BT-3F

Russian BT-3F APC

In 2020, Defense World Net reported that “Indonesia is eyeing a second batch of up to 79 Russian BT-3F tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) worth up to $289 million for the Indonesian Navy’s (TNI-AL’s) Korps Marinir (KORMAR, or Marine Corps).

KORMAR is already operating 21 BT-3F APCs, which are derived from the BMP-3 IFV, acquired at a cost of $67.2 million from state-owned defence exporter JSC Rosoboronexport in April 2019. Indonesia is also the first international customer of the BT-3F.