The SINKEX was part of the annual Joint Naval Operations Exercise (Latopslagab) which this time took place in the Bali Sea. At least three anti-ship missiles were fired at the target ship; two French-made Exocet MM40 Block 3 and one Chinese-made C-802. According to TNI AL’s press release, the missiles were from a distance of 35 nautical miles (64 kilometres) using both horizontal and vertical waypoints.
The Exocet was fired by two KCR-60M (Kapal Cepat Rudal-60 Metre) Fast Attack Craft (FAC), KRI Kapak (625) and KRI Halasan (630). Both ships were constructed domestically by Indonesia’s state-owned shipbuilder, PT PAL Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the C-802 was launched from launched from a Van Speijk-class frigate, KRI Yos Sudarso (353). The frigate once served the Royal Netherlands Navy as HNLMS Van Galen (F803) before being sold to Indonesia in the 1980s.
TNI AL stated that during the exercise, they also fired Black Shark heavy-weight and A244/S light-weight torpedoes from a Type-209/1400 submarine, KRI Alugoro (405), and a SIGMA 9113 corvette, KRI Sultan Hasanuddin (366), respectively. However, reports indicate that these were training torpedoes, thus they did not actually impact the target ship.
The target is the ex-KRI Pulau Romang (723), which was the former East German Volksmarine’s minesweeper Pritzwalk (325). Along with some of its sister ships and dozens of other ex-East German warships, including Parchim-class corvettes and Frosch-class landing ship tanks, the minesweeper was transferred to Indonesia in the 1990s.
Third SINKEX in less than a year
As mentioned earlier, this is the third SINKEX that TNI AL conducted within less than a year.
On June 30, 2023, a decommissioned troop transport ship was sunk by an Exocet Missile fired from SIGMA 10514-class frigates, KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332). Moreover, on July 31, 2023, a combination of anti-ship missiles and free-fall bombs sunk a decommissioned Van Speijk-class frigate.
More Missiles, But What About Commonality & Interoperability?
In the future, the Indonesian Navy might operate new types of surface-to-surface missiles. The recent announcement of the procurement of two Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessels from Italy might open the opportunity for Teseo/OTOMAT missiles to be added to TNI AL’s inventory.
Likewise, the decision to buy two Scorpène Evolved submarines from France will allow TNI AL to, for the first time, acquire submarine-launched cruise missiles, the Exocet SM39. To note, in 2026, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will start operating Rafale fighters that could fire air-launched versions of the Exocet.
Furthermore, there is a plan to equip some of TNI AL’s existing surface combatants with Turkish-made Atmaca missiles. TNI AL has also received other proposals, including those on Brahmos and Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile. In addition, TNI AL still has an unfulfilled desire to build a missile-based coastal defence network at the country’s strategic choke points, including the Makassar Strait.
While diversifying missile sources may offer certain benefits in terms of geopolitics and technological access, it also presents huge challenges in terms of interoperability, training, and maintenance.
