Indonesian Navy faces strategic choice for blue water shift
Rear Admiral Salim, head of the Maritime Studies Center at the Naval Command and Staff College, said the service could pursue either a structural or a transformational approach.
He spoke at an online discussion titled “Indonesia’s Blue Water Transition: Why High-Value ASW/AAW Assets Will Decide Its Credibility” on Wednesday.
A blue-water navy refers to a force able to operate across deep oceans globally and project power far from its home country.
Salim said the two approaches could be tailored to the Indonesian Navy’s operational requirements and long-term defense priorities.
Under the structural approach, the navy would expand the number of ships and overall fleet strength.
Increasing the number of vessels would strengthen maritime patrols and enhance presence across multiple sea lanes and strategic areas, he said.
A larger fleet would also make it easier for the navy to safeguard Indonesia’s maritime boundaries and respond more quickly to threats at sea.
“The function of expanding the fleet is to widen operational reach and respond to maritime threats,” Salim said.
By contrast, the transformational approach would prioritize quality over quantity rather than simply adding more ships.
“This approach emphasizes quality over quantity. That means fewer assets,” he said.
Even with fewer platforms, those assets must be equipped with advanced sensor technology to maximize maritime monitoring and surveillance efficiency.
They should also be supported by resilient C6ISR systems — command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — to ensure integrated operations.
Salim said the choice between the two approaches would shape future naval investment patterns and procurement decisions.
He expressed confidence that adopting either strategy would enable the Indonesian Navy to transition more effectively toward a credible blue-water capability.
Earlier, at a separate event, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali said the navy is gradually working to implement a Green Water Navy concept before transitioning to a Blue Water Navy.
“We hope to become a Green Water Navy first before moving toward a Blue Water Navy,” Ali said at the Military Sealift Command of the Indonesian Navy (Kolinlamil) pier in North Jakarta recently.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution