Indonesian Navy Faces Two Options in Implementing Blue Water Navy System

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Maritime Studies Centre at the Naval Staff and Command School (Seskoal), Rear Admiral Salim, stated that the TNI AL faces two possible approaches if it wishes to implement a blue water navy system.

For clarification, a blue water navy is a naval defence system that possesses the capability to operate in open oceans and deep waters globally, enabling its forces to project power far from its home country.

These two approaches are structural and transformational. “These two approaches can be adjusted to suit the needs of the TNI AL,” said Salim during a discussion entitled “Indonesia’s Blue Water Transition: Why High-Value ASW/AAW Assets Will Decide Its Credibility,” held online on Wednesday.

For the first, structural approach, the TNI AL must take several steps, including increasing the number of ships and the size of the naval fleet.

Salim explained that by increasing the number of ships, territorial security will be strengthened with more ships patrolling various areas.

The presence of many ships will also make it easier for the TNI AL to be present at specific points in the waters to maintain Indonesia’s maritime borders.

“Furthermore, increasing the number of Indonesian fleets is expected to expand the operational area and respond to threats at sea,” Salim clarified.

As for the transformational approach, the TNI AL no longer prioritises the concept of increasing the fleet or the number of ships.

“This approach prioritises quality over quantity. This means fewer assets,” he said.

Although it has fewer assets, Salim added, these assets must be equipped with advanced sensor technology to ensure that maritime monitoring and surveillance can be maximised and made more efficient.

“It must be equipped with Resilient C6ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) technology,” said Salim.

Salim continued, these two approaches will determine the TNI AL’s investment patterns in the field of naval defence in the future.

By implementing one of these two approaches, Salim believes that the TNI AL will be able to easily adopt a blue water navy defence system.