Indonesia plans drones and unmanned submarines for efficient naval patrols

TNI AL Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali explained that both types of defense equipment would serve in supporting roles for naval vessels operating across Indonesian waters.

“Our plan is to prioritize the use of drones, given that they offer high effectiveness and efficiency. Moreover, we will also use autonomous submarines to conduct underwater surveillance,” he told the press at TNI AL Headquarters in East Jakarta on Thursday.

He emphasized that TNI AL fully supports President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to identify feasible ways to curb fuel use amid global supply disruption risks.

At the same time, Ali assured the public that the efficiency policy would not hinder the navy’s patrolling duty.

He said his team aims to maximize the capabilities of drones and unmanned submarines without undermining patrol effectiveness, noting that these pieces of equipment run on electricity.

The admiral went on to say that TNI AL would also adopt the government’s mandatory B50 biodiesel program, requiring warships to shift to the use of diesel fuel blended with 50 percent palm oil.

To support the transition, he said the navy will “modify the engines of vessels” accordingly.

Ali further explained that the use of B50 biodiesel is expected to help reduce reliance on crude oil among ships assigned to patrol or transport missions without compromising agility and effectiveness.

“For the time being, our vessels are still using B35 fuel,” he said, adding that the shift to a B50 blend will start gradually in the near term.

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Translator: Walda M, Tegar Nurfitra