Inp.polri.go.id - Surabaya. Indonesia will soon produce 30 autonomous submarines (KSOT) to secure strategic maritime choke points across its vast territorial waters, Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin announced Thursday 30/10/2025).

“After a technical evaluation with the Indonesian Military Commander, Navy Chief of Staff, and PT PAL, we concluded that Indonesia requires 30 autonomous submarines,” he told reporters aboard KRI dr. Soeharso-990, as reported by antaranews.com.

The AI-based unmanned mini-submarines, developed by state maritime manufacturing company.PT PAL Indonesia, are powered by electric motors and currently use internet-based navigation. 

During Thursday’s demonstration, officials witnessed the KSOT-008 prototype successfully launch a training torpedoEven 

President Prabowo Subianto, who called during the event, urged immediate full-scale production and deployment next year.

Minister Sjafrie emphasized that the innovation would enhance naval readiness and efficiency while reducing manpower needs.

“Indonesia becomes the fourth nation after the U.S., Russia, and China to produce autonomous submarines,” he said.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)