Indonesian Navy to Acquire Submarine Rescue Vessel from UK, SRV-F Mk.3 Specifications Impress
The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) is preparing to strengthen its underwater rescue capabilities by introducing a modern submarine rescue vessel, or Submersible Rescue Vehicle (SRV), which will be stationed on KRI Canopus-936. This advanced equipment is projected to arrive starting in 2027.
TNI AL Chief of Staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali, stated that the SRV is currently under construction in the UK and will become a crucial component of TNI AL’s underwater rescue operations.
“The SRV, that vessel is being built in the UK and may arrive in 2027. The submarine will then be on board this ship (KRI Canopus-936),” said Muhammad Ali at the Kolinlamil Dock, Jakarta, on Monday, 11 May 2026, quoted from Antara.
According to Ali, the presence of the SRV will bolster KRI Canopus-936’s ability to carry out search and rescue missions for submarines or aircraft that have fallen into the sea.
In its future operations, KRI Canopus will utilise sonar technology to detect objects beneath the sea surface. Once the target’s position is located, the SRV will be deployed along with its crew to conduct evacuation processes at ocean depths.
In addition, the rescue vessel is equipped with modern underwater monitoring technology such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or underwater drones.
Ali hopes that this new capability will make TNI AL even more optimal in carrying out underwater surveillance and rescue missions.
“With the SRV, we hope that underwater monitoring and rescue capabilities will be even more maximal,” he said.
Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, Indonesia has ordered the SRV-F Mk.3 produced by the British company Submarine Manufacturing and Products Ltd (SMP). This submarine rescue vessel adopts the “One Out, All Out” concept, which allows the entire submarine crew to be evacuated in just one trip.
This capability is supported by a large carrying capacity, namely up to 50 passengers with three operator crew members. With these specifications, the SRV-F Mk.3 is said to be one of the most advanced submarine rescue vehicles in its class.
The procurement contract for this defence equipment was signed in 2023 when Prabowo Subianto was still serving as Minister of Defence. The project is supported by the UK Export Finance (UKEF) institution and carried out in collaboration with the local company PT BTI Indo Tekno.