Defense Minister Ensures Unmanned Submarine Tests Shooting Next Week

Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin at the Ministry of Defense office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (22/10/2025) (ANTARA/Walka Marison)

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin ensured that the Indonesian Navy would deploy an unmanned submarine (KSOT) or submarine to conduct a test fire for the first time next week.

"Next week we will shoot an unmanned submarine," said Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 22.

Sjafrie explained that the shootout would be carried out in the Surabaya sea area under the Fleet Command (Koarmada) II area.

According to him, Indonesia should be proud of the existence of this KSOT because Indonesia is the fourth country to have an unmanned submarine.

"We are the 4th country in the world for the production of unmanned submarines developed nationally," explained Sjafrie.

He said the shooting trial with KSOT was open to the public to watch.

CEO of PT PAL Indonesia Kaharuddin Djenod stated that his party proves the quality and reliability of national defense products through KSOT submarine products based on unmanned artificial intelligence (AI), which are also displayed in the TNI's 80th Anniversary.

"The participation of PT PAL Indonesia's innovation products is in line with flagship defense products as proof of trust and pride for the TNI with domestic defense equipment products," he said in Surabaya, East Java (9/10).

KSOT is designed as an alternative underwater defense system to become a trident shield of the archipelago which is equipped with surveillance capabilities and detects enemy ships or opponents.

KSOT is operated directly through the autonomous command center (ASCC) using direct radio frequency or satellite that can be integrated with CIC on the headquarters ship, headquarters and Navy base.

According to Djenoed, this moment marks a real contribution to the progress of the nation's independence in the marine defense sector and at the same time adds pride in the celebration of the TNI's 80th Anniversary on October 5.

In addition, he emphasized that the presence of KSOT innovation is also a maritime defense solution whose benefits are felt directly for the people.

"We want to prove that the red-and-white engineer is able to answer the challenges of the future while maintaining the honor of the nation in the maritime sector," he said.