IRIA News

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The Indonesian Navy officially commissioned the KRI Bung Hatta, a locally manufactured Bung Karno-class corvette, during a formal ceremony in Batam. The event marked a notable achievement in Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to modernize its maritime forces and reinforce national shipbuilding capabilities.

The KRI Bung Hatta was constructed by Karimun Anugrah Sejati, a shipbuilding company based in Batam, Indonesia. It is the second vessel in the Bung Karno-class, following the commissioning of its sister ship, KRI Bung Karno, in 2023.

KRI Bung Karno is named after the country’s first President, while KRI Bung Hatta is named in tribute to Mohammad Hatta, Indonesia’s first Vice President and third Prime Minister.

The vessel stands as a testament to Indonesia’s increasing capability to produce sophisticated naval assets domestically. The choice of Batam, a strategically located and industrially active area, underscores the government’s intention to leverage local resources and expertise in national defense development.

Features and specifications

Although KRI Bung Hatta belongs to the same class as KRI Bung Karno, the newly commissioned corvette comes with enhanced features and slightly larger dimensions. The vessel measures 80.3 meters in length and 12.6 meters in beam, giving it a more commanding presence and improved operational flexibility. It is crewed by 82 officers and enlisted sailors.

The propulsion system on the Bung Hatta allows the corvette to reach speeds of up to 25 knots, making it a fast and agile addition to the Navy’s surface fleet. The ship also features a flight deck designed to accommodate an AS565 multi-role helicopter, further expanding its reconnaissance and response capabilities in various operational scenarios.

Modern armament with future upgrades

The KRI Bung Hatta is equipped with a Bofors 57mm naval gun as its primary weapon, a more powerful system compared to the 40mm main gun aboard its sister ship, KRI Bung Karno. This armament choice reflects an apparent shift toward stronger firepower in Indonesia’s surface fleet. There are indications that the 57mm gun may be replaced by a 76mm gun in the future, suggesting an openness to evolving the ship’s combat capabilities as operational requirements change.

Additional armaments planned for the Bung Hatta include 20mm autocannons for close-in defense, as well as torpedoes and a suite of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles. These weapons systems are intended to ensure the ship can perform a range of missions, from maritime security patrols to combat operations.

Operation role

With the KRI Bung Hatta now officially part of the Indonesian Navy, the vessel is expected to undertake a variety of missions, including maritime surveillance, escort operations, and defense of territorial waters

The corvette’s design and armament make it a versatile platform capable of responding to both conventional threats and non-traditional challenges such as piracy and illegal fishing.

The Bung Karno-class corvettes are set to become a cornerstone of Indonesia’s mid-sized surface combatant fleet. The Navy’s ability to deploy well-armed, multi-role ships built within national borders may also serve as a model for future classes of warships, potentially paving the way for exports to friendly nations seeking cost-effective maritime solutions.

Strategic value

The KRI Bung Hatta represents a concrete step in Indonesia’s broader maritime strategy. As the world’s largest archipelagic state, Indonesia relies heavily on secure sea lines of communication (SLOCs) for trade and territorial integrity.

The commissioning of modern corvettes like Bung Hatta is crucial to bolstering the Navy’s ability to patrol vast maritime zones, deter potential threats, and assert sovereignty in strategically important waters.

The construction of the Bung Hatta corvette by a local shipyard underscores Indonesia’s commitment to developing indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities. This move is in line with the government’s defense self-reliance program, which aims to reduce dependency on foreign military hardware by encouraging domestic production.

By leveraging local companies such as Karimun Anugrah Sejati, Indonesia not only supports its economy but also gains strategic autonomy in maintaining and upgrading its naval assets. Local production allows for better logistical support and faster implementation of technical updates, which are crucial for maintaining readiness in a rapidly changing security environment.

The commissioning of KRI Bung Hatta is more than just a routine addition to the Indonesian Navy; it is a milestone in the nation’s pursuit of maritime strength, defense independence, and national pride. By investing in domestic shipbuilding and equipping its fleet with increasingly sophisticated vessels, Indonesia signals its readiness to protect its waters and assert its interests on the regional and global stage.