80-meter warship delivered in Batam marks progress in national shipbuilding, despite lacking modern weaponry
On April 17, the private shipyard PT Karimun Anugerah Sejati (KAS), located in Batam, officially delivered the new Bung Hatta corvette (hull number “370”, KRH 370) to the Indonesian Navy. The handover was overseen by the Navy’s Chief of Staff (KASAL), according to defense-focused sources.
The ship was built in just 20 months, based on the same design used for the construction of the Bung Karno corvette (KRH 369), delivered in June 2023. However, that vessel was designed as a presidential yacht with helicopter transport capabilities, while the Bung Hatta was conceived as a combat vessel.
Combat capabilities still limited
Although the Bung Hatta has reserved spaces for future weapons systems — including anti-ship missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, and 324 mm torpedo tubes — the vessel was delivered without these armaments installed. Currently, it is equipped only with an older Bofors Mk 1 57 mm artillery piece and two 20 mm machine guns.
Analysts point out that despite its current limitations, the ship represents progress for Indonesia’s shipbuilding industry, particularly due to the short construction time and the technological independence shown during the process.
The expectation is that in the coming years, the Indonesian Navy will modernize the Bung Hatta’s weapon systems, incorporating combat capabilities suited to regional challenges and the requirements of the National Maritime Strategy.
Source and images: Indonesian Navy | defense-studies. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
