The Indonesian Navy successfully test-fired a live torpedo from its first unmanned submarine (KSOT) at the Second Fleet Command naval base in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, marking a significant advancement in Indonesia's defense modernization.
The test was witnessed by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, underscoring the government’s commitment to advancing locally made defense technologies. The KSOT was developed by State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia.
“This is the hard work of our own people … 100 percent designed by Indonesians. The Indonesian Navy and PT PAL will continue refining and enhancing the system to ensure it performs optimally and provides greater operational value,” Sjafrie said after the launch event.
He said further that the successful test places Indonesia among only four countries in the world alongside the United States, Russia, and China capable of developing autonomous submarines, making it a landmark achievement for the country’s defense industry.
“It is a matter of pride that Indonesia can now produce a cutting-edge defense system comparable to those developed by global military powers,” he said.
The KSOT program represents a strategic innovation in Indonesia’s maritime defense capabilities. Designed as an unmanned underwater system with high offensive power, the KSOT is intended to complement the Navy’s existing fleet of manned submarines, providing rapid-response, cost-effective, and risk-reducing options for underwater operations.
Defense analysts view the KSOT as a critical measuretoward strengthening Indonesia’s deterrence capability and achieving greater self-reliance in defense manufacturing, aligning with the government’s long-term vision of defense industrial independence.
High-Level oversight and integration
President Prabowo Subianto monitored the planning and execution of the test remotely from Jakarta through advanced communication systems, emphasizing top-level attention to the project.
Also present at the event were Indonesian Military (TNI) commander General Agus Subiyanto, PT PAL President Director Kaharuddin Djenod, and other senior military and industry officials.
The live torpedo firing test was described as successful and on target, marking a crucial validation stage before further series production and deployment within the Navy’s operational fleet.
“This test is tangible proof of progress in Indonesia’s defense industry and maritime technology. It demonstrates national readiness to safeguard underwater sovereignty through indigenous innovation,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
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