INDONESIAN NAVY TO DEPLOY TWO JAPAN-DONATED PATROL VESSELS IN NUSANTARA

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian Navy will station two patrol vessels donated by Japan in the country's future capital, Nusantara, in Eastern Kalimantan, to help secure vital maritime choke points, officials said.

The announcement was made during a meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Tuesday in the Parliament to discuss the approval of foreign military equipment grants.

Defence Minister General (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin confirmed that the Indonesian Navy would receive the vessels as part of Japan's Official Security Assistance.

"These two patrol vessels will bolster the Indonesian Navy's efforts to safeguard the nation's maritime territory,” he said, according to a statement from the Navy.

The two vessels, measuring 18 metres in length and five metres in width, and with speed of 40 knots, will be agile enough to detect potential threats entering Indonesia's waters through small islands.

According to Indonesia's Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, the vessels, equipped with MTU engines known for their reliability and performance in demanding maritime conditions, will support operations in the Indonesian Sea Lane of Communication II – a key area for patrols along rivers and seas.

"Although the vessels are newly constructed, they lack weapons, but the Navy will equip them with its own armaments.

"The patrol vessels’ placement in Nusantara is part of broader efforts to ensure the protection of Indonesia's strategic maritime interests," he added.

In addition to the two patrol boats from Japan, the Navy is also in the process of upgrading 41 of its ships for immediate operational use.

-- BERNAMA