IndoDefence 2025: Indonesia Boosts Coastal Naval Capabilities with a Stealth Boat Armed with SSM Missiles.

At Indodefense 2025, held in Jakarta and gathering key defense industry players from Asia and beyond, Indonesia unveils a new stealth missile boat designed to meet operational demands in complex maritime environments. This fast and compact naval platform, optimized for low observability, reflects Jakarta’s strategic intent to enhance its coastal surveillance, maritime deterrence, and rapid response capabilities amid growing tensions in the South China Sea and within its exclusive economic zones.
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A key element of the platform is its main armament: surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) with a range of 295 kilometers, capable of engaging naval targets well beyond the visual horizon. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Developed by an Indonesian naval shipbuilder, the vessel is part of a broader effort to modernize and localize the country’s defense industry. Indonesia has been seeking to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers by developing systems suited to the specific needs of its vast and fragmented archipelago, which consists of over 17,000 islands. A stealth vessel equipped with missiles and built for speed represents a strategic asset in this context. It can respond to asymmetric threats, conduct discreet surveillance of sensitive areas, and carry out targeted strikes with limited reaction time.

A key element of the platform is its main armament: surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) with a range of 295 kilometers, capable of engaging naval targets well beyond the visual horizon. This range allows Indonesia to project credible deterrence from its coastline or forward-deployed bases while maintaining standoff distance for the vessel and crew. Combined with a mobile and low-signature platform, these missiles enable both preemptive and retaliatory capabilities in contested regional waters, including the Natuna Islands and approaches to strategic straits.

From a technical standpoint, the vessel maintains a sustained cruising speed of 45 knots and can exceed 50 knots at peak performance, making it effective for interception and rapid engagement missions. It can also operate at an economical speed of 10 knots, suited for extended patrols in low-profile mode. Propulsion is provided by a twin-engine configuration, each main engine delivering 1618 kW, linked to a surfacing drive system designed to enhance lift and speed while reducing acoustic emissions. Two auxiliary 44 kW engines provide onboard electrical power when operating in low-propulsion or silent conditions.

The boat features a multihull design, with a central hull supported by two smaller outrigger hulls to enhance stability and reduce hydrodynamic drag. Its angular superstructure and low silhouette are intended to reduce radar cross-section. The reduced height of the main deck and shallow draft enable operations close to shore and in shallow waters. Its full-load displacement is estimated at 43 tonnes, reflecting its classification as a light, fast, and maneuverable combat platform. These characteristics make it suited for littoral warfare, hybrid security scenarios, and fast-strike missions.

By investing in a low-tonnage, mobile, and radar-defeating platform, Indonesia is complementing its existing fleet of larger frigates and corvettes. This class of vessel is well-suited for area denial, coastal patrol, close escort, and rapid surface attack missions. The combination of speed, low observability, and long-range strike capability aligns with Indonesia’s need to secure its dispersed maritime territory and safeguard vital sea lines of communication.

The stealth missile boat presented at Indodefense 2025 represents a shift toward a more modular, resilient, and self-sufficient naval force. The focus on domestic production reflects a clear policy direction: to equip the country with credible maritime defense tools while building an industrial base capable of sustaining this ambition over time.