According to information published by Radio Republik Indonesia on October 26, 2023, the fleet of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has been augmented with the addition of a Special Mission Combat Boat (SMCB) to its lineup of warships. The ceremony took place at Pluit, Jakarta, with Vice Admiral TNI Ahmadi Heri Purwono overseeing the handover.
The SMCB is tailored for navigating areas inaccessible to larger warships, such as river channels and narrow straits, addressing a significant navigational challenge posed by Indonesia’s geographical terrain filled with small islands and narrow waterways, which are often used for illicit activities like smuggling.
With dimensions of 18.30 meters in length and 4.2 meters in width, the SMCB is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 35 knots. It is equipped with a 12.7 mm caliber machine gun and two 7.62 mm caliber machine guns, and will be manned by a seven-person crew. The vessel also has the capacity to carry 30 troops, making it suitable for amphibious landing operations or humanitarian missions.