Fuel Efficiency: Indonesian Navy to Deploy Drones and Autonomous Submarines for Sea Patrols

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali, stated that the TNI AL will deploy drones and autonomous submarines (KSOT) for sea patrols.

Ali explained that these two technologies will be used to save on fuel oil (BBM) consumption and to support the role of Republic of Indonesia warships (KRI), which have hitherto been tasked with patrols.

“Going forward, we will also prioritise the use of drones because they are very effective and efficient. Even in the future, such as KSOT (autonomous submarines) which you may know about, we will also use them for underwater operations,” said Ali at the Indonesian Navy Headquarters, Jakarta, on Thursday (16/4/2026), quoted from Antara.

On the other hand, he is also striving to ensure that the use of main weapon system equipment (alutsista) for sea patrols does not slacken due to the fuel efficiency policy.

Therefore, Ali is endeavouring to maximise the utilisation of alutsista that rely on electric power, such as drones and KSOT, to safeguard Indonesia’s maritime areas.

In addition to using drones and KSOT, the TNI AL will also employ B50 fuel as the fuel for KRI.

B50 fuel is a vegetable-based fuel with a mixture of 50 percent diesel and 50 percent oil from crude palm oil (CPO).

Ali conveyed that the use of B50 can reduce the TNI AL’s dependence on fuel derived from crude oil.

Moreover, the use of B50 is also considered capable of supporting the operations of ships with high mobility, such as sea patrols up to logistics or troop delivery missions.

“For patrols at the moment, we are still using ships that run on B35 fuel,” said Ali.

With the efforts to use B50 fuel, Ali assured that the intensity of ships in conducting patrols at sea will not decrease amid the fuel efficiency period.