Indonesia strengthens naval fleet with refurbishment, enhancement program

Gusty Da Costa

In February 2025, the newly refurbished Indonesian Navy vessel KRI Bung Tomo departed Belawan Navy Base for the multilateral exercise Aman in the Arabian Sea. The 90-meter frigate is one of 41 vessels benefiting from Jakarta’s R41 program to extend the fleet’s service life and enhance its combat capabilities.

A partnership of the Defense Ministry and Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL, the program includes refurbishing vessels and adding advanced technologies and weaponry.

Upgrading assets such as KRI Bung Tomo and KRI Kerapu, a 58-meter fast patrol ship, demonstrates Indonesia’s commitment to maintaining a technologically capable and mission-ready fleet, Indonesia’s Kompas newspaper reported. Corvettes, frigates, offshore patrol vessels and a fast missile boat are among the ships being modernized. Engines, hulls, propellers, radar, communications, weaponry and other key components are being enhanced to ensure the fleet meets the essential force requirements for combat and noncombat operations.

“With regular maintenance and increased technological capabilities, Indonesian warships can continue to operate optimally in various national and international missions,” PT PAL production director Diana Rosa said in a news release. In addition to technology upgrades, the KRI Bung Tomo’s hull was serviced below the waterline, with maintenance also including valves, fin stabilizers and propulsion systems.

“A modern and well-maintained fleet will improve operational readiness and help address threats such as fishing theft, smuggling, maritime terrorism, as well as military threats from foreign countries,” maritime expert Marcellus Hakeng Jayawibawa told FORUM.

The Indonesian Navy confronts frequent incursions by foreign fishing vessels, particularly from China, into the country’s exclusive economic zone, he noted. Piracy in key waterways such as the Malacca Strait also is a concern, while regional disputes over territorial waters pose security challenges.

Fleet modernization enhances detection capabilities, rapid response and combat power, all critical for maintaining national sovereignty, according to Beni Sukadis, an analyst at the Indonesian Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies.

“The issue of MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] is still a major challenge due to the limited defense budget that often hampers the operational readiness of defense equipment,” he told FORUM. “In recent years, this problem has been recurring, so the government has tried to gradually increase the budget to ensure that warships and weapons systems remain in top condition.”

Maintaining a modern fleet is vital to Indonesia’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which emphasizes regional cooperation, Hakeng said. “The country actively participates in joint maritime exercises and patrols with partners such as Australia, Japan and the United States, strengthening interoperability and defense diplomacy,” he said.

While many of the vessels modernized under R41 were built abroad, Indonesia is reducing reliance on defense equipment imports by strengthening its domestic industry, said Teuku Rezasyah, an international relations lecturer at Padjadjaran University. PT PAL, for example, has advanced shipbuilding and technology integration capabilities, collaborating with smaller defense firms and institutions such as Surabaya University of Technology to enhance local expertise.

“The maintenance capability helps us to not depend entirely on foreign suppliers and can therefore help keep costs down,” he said. “Technological adaptation and the ability to upgrade naval assets will be critical in ensuring Indonesia’s long-term maritime defense strategy.”

Gusty Da Costa is a FORUM contributor based in Jakarta, Indonesia.