JAKARTA - Unhan military observer Ade Muhammad assessed that the decision of the Indonesian Navy to reduce the use of fuel through the deployment of drones and autonomous submarines (KSOT) for maritime patrols is a technological transition that can have a positive impact on defense creativity.
"So actually I see this as "The Power of Kepepet" of our nation, so that we can innovate to overcome limitations while strengthening the function of military surveillance," he said in a written statement on Sunday, April 19.
According to him, drones are an inevitability in today's defense.
Therefore, the steps of the Indonesian Navy to utilize drones and autonomous submarines (KSOT) for maritime patrols are a logical and modern policy, especially in the midst of the need for fuel efficiency and the vastness of Indonesia's maritime territory which reaches around 6.4 million square kilometers if it includes the EEZ.
With such an area, conventional patrols that only rely on KRI are certainly expensive in terms of fuel, engine hours, and maintenance costs.
In addition, the use of aerial drones, surface drones, and autonomous underwater vehicles can be a force multiplier, expanding the range of surveillance without having to always deploy large ships.
"The combination of drones as eyes, ears and the combination of KRI as hands and arrows. The key is in the CONOPS (Concept of Operations) and the datalink. Moreover, submarines communicate by sticking antennas to the surface and when in the sea using VLF (Very Low Frequency). This must also use a secure or encrypted military-grade line," said Ade.
"However, its effectiveness depends on the right concept of operation. Drones and KSOT should not be seen as a total replacement for KRI, but rather a front sensor layer. This means that autonomous vehicles are tasked with detecting, monitoring, recording, and marking suspicious targets, while KRI, maritime patrol aircraft, or special forces elements remain as an interception and law enforcement platform," he continued.
Ade emphasized that the ideal model of this efficiency is 'detect with cheap asset, respond with decisive asset.'
In this way, the KRI does not need to sail continuously without target information, but moves based on more precise intelligence cues.
"The next step or generation is 'more fun' if a submarine drone is developed with autonomous AI and has offensive capabilities (both kamikaze and firing torpedoes or underwater missiles), not forgetting to use HITL (Human In-The Loop) which requires humans for decisions," he concluded.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
