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The Indonesian Navy (, TNI-AL) is the naval branch of the
Indonesian National Armed Forces The Indonesian National Armed Forces (; abbreviated as TNI) are the military forces of the Republic of Indonesia. It consists of the Indonesian Army, Army (''TNI-AD''), Indonesian Navy, Navy (''TNI-AL''), and Indonesian Air Force, Air Force ('' ...
. It was founded on 10 September 1945 and has a role to patrol
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
's lengthy
coastline A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...
, to enforce and patrol the
territorial waters Territorial waters are informally an area of water where a sovereign state has jurisdiction, including internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and potentially the extended continental shelf ( ...
and
Exclusive Economic Zone An exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is an area of the sea in which a sovereign state has exclusive rights regarding the exploration and use of marine natural resource, reso ...
(EEZ) of Indonesia, to protect Indonesia's maritime strategic interests, to protect the islands surrounding Indonesia, and to defend against seaborne threats. The Navy is headed by the Chief of Staff of the Navy ( – KSAL or KASAL). The Indonesian Navy consists of three major fleets known as " Armada", which are (1st Fleet Command) located in Tanjung Uban, (2nd Fleet Command) located in
Surabaya Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...
, (3rd Fleet Command) located in Sorong, and one (Military Sealift Command). The Navy also heads the Marine Corps.


Mission

According to Article 9 of Law No.34/2004 on the
National Armed Forces National Armed Forces (; NSZ) was a Polish right-wing underground military organization of the National Democracy (Poland), National Democracy operating from 1942. During World War II, NSZ troops fought against Nazi Germany and Gwardia Ludowa, c ...
, the Navy has the following tasks: # perform military duties in national defence; # enforce the law and secure order in the sea area of national jurisdiction in accordance with national laws and ratified international laws; # perform diplomatic duties in support of foreign policy set by the government; # engage in other duties relevant to the maintenance and development of naval power; # support civilian empowerment in sea defence areas.


History


Creation and actions during the revolution

The official Indonesian Navy's history began on 10 September 1945, at the outset of the
Indonesian National Revolution The Indonesian National Revolution (), also known as the Indonesian War of Independence (, ), was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during A ...
. The administration of the early Indonesian government established the People's Marine Security Agency () on 22 August 1945, the predecessor to the modern Indonesian Navy. BKR Laut with only wooden ships, a few landing craft, and weapons left by Japan, was initially composed of Indonesian sailors who had served in the ranks of the
Royal Netherlands Navy The Royal Netherlands Navy (, ) is the Navy, maritime service branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. It traces its history to 8 January 1488, making it the List of navies, third-oldest navy in the world. During the 17th and early 18th centurie ...
during the Dutch colonial period, and who had fought the Japanese during the years of
military occupation Military occupation, also called belligerent occupation or simply occupation, is temporary hostile control exerted by a ruling power's military apparatus over a sovereign territory that is outside of the legal boundaries of that ruling pow ...
, plus active militias who served with the Japanese and ex-Indonesian officers and ratings of the
Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, Potsdam Declaration, when it was dissolved followin ...
. The formation of the Indonesian military organization known as the
People's Security Army The People's Security Army () or commonly abbreviated as TKR is the name of the first military force A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily Weapon, armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. M ...
() on 5 October 1945, at the height of the National Revolution, helped spur the further existence of the TKR Naval Branch – the Peoples' Security Navy (), which later became the Republic of Indonesia Navy (). The name ALRI was used until 1970, when it was changed to (TNI-AL). As the revolution grew, and the Navy began its work, naval bases were established throughout the archipelago. Former ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy handed down to the new republic were acquired. Simple strength did not discourage the Navy from deploying Sea Traffic Operations in order to spread the news of the proclamation and help to form and train Republican military forces and militias nationwide. Besides, they also attempted to breach the Dutch naval blockade in order to obtain aid from abroad. The newly formed navy confronted the more superior Royal Netherlands Navy in
Bali Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...
,
Sibolga Sibolga (formerly sometimes Siboga) is a city and a port located in the natural harbour of Sibolga Bay on the west coast of North Sumatra province, in Indonesia. The city is located on the western side of North Sumatra facing the Indian Ocean, ...
, and
Cirebon Cirebon (, formerly rendered Cheribon or Chirebon in English) is a port city on the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is the only coastal city of West Java, located about 40 km west of the provincial border with Central J ...
. Cross-sea operations are also able to prepare the armed forces in
South Kalimantan South Kalimantan () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is the second most populous province on the island of Kalimantan, the Indonesian territory of the island of Borneo after West Kalimantan. The provincial capital was Banjar ...
, Bali, and
Sulawesi Sulawesi ( ), also known as Celebes ( ), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the List of islands by area, world's 11th-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Min ...
. Limitations in strength and ability to lead the Navy had to divert the struggle in the countryside after most boats were sunk and nearly all bases battered by the Dutch and Allied military forces. But the determination to participate again in the sea never subsided. In the hard times during the National Revolution, the Navy succeeded in forming the Fleet Forces (CA), Marine Corps (), and educational institutions in various places. The formation of these elements marks the presence of aspects for the formation of a modern national navy.


After the revolution

The end of the War of Independence marked the development of the Navy as a modern naval power. In accordance to the results of the Round Table Conference, in 1949, the Navy received a variety of war equipment such as warships and its supporting facilities such as naval bases. This step came along with the process of consolidation within the Navy, revamping the organization and recruitment of personnel through educational institutions before manning naval equipment. During 1949–1959, the Indonesian Navy managed to enhance its strength and improve its capabilities. In the field of organization the navy reorganized its Fleet Forces, the Marine Corps – then (''KKO-AL'' – Naval Commando Corps Command), naval aviation and a number of regions as territorial defense command aspects of the sea. Naval combat equipment grew, both from former Dutch equipment handed down to the new republic and through purchase from other countries. With the increased strength and the capability, the Navy began refining the strategy, tactics, and techniques of marine operations, which are directly applied in a variety of military operations in order to deal with separatist movements that have sprung up in the year from 1950 to 1959. In operations against PRRI in Sumatra, Permesta, Darul Islam in West Java, and RMS in the
Moluccas The Maluku Islands ( ; , ) or the Moluccas ( ; ) are an archipelago in the eastern part of Indonesia. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Geographically they are located in West Melanesi ...
, the Navy gained lessons in applying the concept of marine operations, amphibious operations, and joint operations with other forces.


At the height of the Cold War

At the time the country started to recover from the threat of disintegration, in 1959, the Navy launched a program known as (rough translation – "Towards A Distinguished Navy"). The Navy experienced a significant progress until 1965 which was motivated by the politics of confrontation in order to seize
West Irian Western New Guinea, also known as Papua, Indonesian New Guinea, and Indonesian Papua, is the western half of the island of New Guinea, formerly Dutch colonial empire, Dutch and granted to Indonesia in 1962. Given the island is alternatively n ...
, which Indonesia claimed as part of its territory, a claim refuted by the Dutch government. As part of the increasing military ties between Indonesia and the
Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact (WP), formally the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance (TFCMA), was a Collective security#Collective defense, collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Polish People's Republic, Poland, between the Sovi ...
, various naval combat equipments from Eastern European countries strengthened the Navy and become the dominant force at the time. Some military equipment of Soviet production served in the ranks of the Navy, among others , , Riga-class frigate, Whiskey-class submarine (the first such vessels to be used in
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
),
Komar-class missile boat The Soviet Project 183R class, more commonly known as the Komar class, its NATO reporting name, meaning "mosquito", is a class of missile boats, the first of its kind, built in the 1950s and 1960s. Notably, they were the first to sink another sh ...
, Ilyushin Il-28 long-range bomber aircraft of Naval Aviation and the
PT-76 The PT-76 is a Soviet Union, Soviet amphibious vehicle, amphibious light tank that was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armed forces. It was widely exporte ...
Amphibious light tanks,
BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for ''Bronetransporter'' (), literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet Union, Soviet tracked Amphibious vehicle, amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank chassis. The BTR-50 was developed ...
APCs and BM-14 MRLs (Southeast Asia's first ever MRL system in service) of the Commando Corps, the first of their kind in the region. With such power in the era of the 1960s the Navy was called the largest Navy in Southeast Asia and one of the strongest within the Asia-Pacific, outranking those of its neighbors in armament and prestige. By January 1962 the Indonesian Navy started preparing several naval operations for the liberation of
West Irian Western New Guinea, also known as Papua, Indonesian New Guinea, and Indonesian Papua, is the western half of the island of New Guinea, formerly Dutch colonial empire, Dutch and granted to Indonesia in 1962. Given the island is alternatively n ...
known as Operation Trikora, which began on 15 December the year before as part of the military component of that operation under the Mandala Command for the Liberation of West Irian () . Beginning 1 January, fast-ship torpedo vessels of the Navy were forward deployed to deal with destroyers, frigates and aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Navy. On January 15, 1962, Commodore Yos Sudarso along with RI ''Matjan Tutul'' sank in the sea battle in the
Arafura Sea The Arafura Sea (or Arafuru Sea) lies west of the Pacific Ocean, overlying the continental shelf between Australia and Western New Guinea (also called Papua), which is the Indonesian part of the Island of New Guinea. Geography The Arafura Sea is ...
. This battle is known as the Vlakke Hoek incident. By mid-year the Navy was preparing to organize its role in the planned Operation Jayawijaya which would have been the largest amphibious operation in the history of Indonesian military operations if commenced. The naval component was made up of 100 warships and 16,000 sailors and Marines. The deployment of forces preparatory to the planned landings in West Papua forced the Dutch to return to negotiations and reached an agreement to hand over West Irian to Indonesia. After seizing West Irian, Sukarno by 1963 moved his sights on
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
. Indonesia political confrontation against
Neocolonialism Neocolonialism is the control by a state (usually, a former colonial power) over another nominally independent state (usually, a former colony) through indirect means. The term ''neocolonialism'' was first used after World War II to refer to ...
and
Imperialism Imperialism is the maintaining and extending of Power (international relations), power over foreign nations, particularly through expansionism, employing both hard power (military and economic power) and soft power (diplomatic power and cultura ...
(Nekolim) continued in Operation Dwikora to oppose the formation of Malaysia. Although elements of the National Armed Forces were prepared for operational deployments to the new state, the operations were limited to the infiltration operation along the Borneo frontier. Soldiers from the marine corps were involved in the operations which targeted both the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. The Marine Corps, though, would figure in the 1964 MacDonald House bombing in Singapore.


1965 onwards

Operation Dwikora was discontinued in 1965 along with a succession of governments in Indonesia after an abortive ''coup d'état'' took place in
Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
, which were organized by the self-proclaimed organization of
Indonesian National Armed Forces The Indonesian National Armed Forces (; abbreviated as TNI) are the military forces of the Republic of Indonesia. It consists of the Indonesian Army, Army (''TNI-AD''), Indonesian Navy, Navy (''TNI-AL''), and Indonesian Air Force, Air Force ('' ...
members who, in the early hours of 1 October 1965, assassinated six
Indonesian Army The Indonesian Army ( (TNI-AD), ) is the army, land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,400 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its roots in 1945 when the (TKR) "People's Se ...
generals and killed 3 more. Since 1966, the Navy experienced a new chapter in its history as the military integration efforts. With the integration of the armed forces organizationally and operationally been able to keep up on the implementation of tasks in the field of defense and security so doctrinally, the direction of development of the power and capabilities of each branch to be concentrated. The operations were prominent during the period of the 1970s was Operation Seroja in the framework of the integration of
East Timor Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and ...
to Indonesia. The Navy played an active role in the operation of landings, a joint ground operation, and transporting troops by sea. Starting the 1980s the Navy began to modernize combat equipment. Ships made in Eastern Europe that has been the core strength of the Navy in the era of the 1960s and 1970s were not suited to meet the growing and changing needs for the navy and its branches (saving for its submarines and several corvettes and frigates, the submarines were retired in 1990). The worsening relations between Indonesia and the
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
after the overthrow of President Sukarno resulted a cessation of military cooperation between the two countries and the Warsaw Pact. Therefore, the Navy switched once more to using Western technology to modernize the power and ability to buy warships, logistics vessels and other major combat equipment from various countries. Included among those commissioned during the
Suharto Suharto (8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian Officer (armed forces), military officer and politician, and dictator, who was the second and longest serving president of Indonesia, serving from 1967 to 1998. His 32 years rule, cha ...
presidency were and from the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, from
West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...
, fast patrol boat from
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
, and the GAF Nomad patrol aircraft from
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. In 1993 the Navy also received 39 ships from the former (East German Navy), including 16 s, 14 Frosch-class landing ship tanks (LSTs), and 9 Kondor II-class minessweepers. Aside from these the Navy reorganized its forces. In 1984, as part of an-Armed Forces wide unit reorganization, the former Naval Regions, which in turn governed Naval Bases and Naval Districts and subordinate Naval Stations and Naval Air Stations, were turned into Main Naval Bases of the Navy Fleet Commands, divided from the formerly unified National Fleet Command on the basis of the Western and Eastern Squadrons of the Fleet. The National Fleet Command by the late 1960s was briefly split into two operational fleets – the Ocean Fleet Force (for defense operations abroad) and the Archipelago Fleet (for local defense operations within Indonesia), until these were fused into a unified command in 1970. At the same time the Navy began to develop a non-combat military operations in the form of humanitarian service program in various remote areas in Indonesia that can only be reached by sea. The core of the operating activities are health services, construction and rehabilitation of public facilities and various counseling in health, law, and civil defense. This event is held regularly every year until now. A number of countries also participated in these activities, among others, Singapore, Australia and the United States. The navy also seeks promoting the development of the maritime sector, especially those related to aspects of defense and security at sea, activities that had been present since independence before the formation of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The actual activities undertaken today by the Navy are establishing marine development assessment bodies together with the government and private sectors in some areas, coastal village pilot programs are summarized in Coastal Rural Development (Bindesir), and the National Potential Development Program for Maritime Defense (Binpotnaskuatmar). In order to encourage the spirit of the seafaring nation, the Navy held an international scale maritime event 1995. The navy was responsible for the programs for National Maritime Year 1996 and the Bunaken Declaration of 1998, which is a manifestation of marine development in Indonesia.


Expansion in the 21st century

During the presidencies of
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (born 9 September 1949), commonly referred to as SBY, is an Indonesian politician and retired Indonesian Army, army general who served as the sixth president of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014 and the second president of Ind ...
and
Joko Widodo Joko Widodo (; born 21 June 1961), often known mononymously as Jokowi, is an Indonesian politician, engineer, and businessman who served as the seventh president of Indonesia from 2014 to 2024. Previously a member of the Indonesian Democratic ...
, the Navy has begun a program of expansion of its combat commands and has begun a program of national warship construction in naval arsenals, while acquiring nationally produced transport aircraft for the needs of the Navy. On December 17, 2024, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali inaugurated two Fast Patrol Warships (PC 60), KRI Hampala-880 and KRI Lumba-Lumba-881, at a ceremony held at Sunda Kelapa Pier, North Jakarta. The ships were produced by domestic shipbuilder PT. Caputra Mitra Sejati.


Organization

According to Presidential Regulation No. 66/2019 on the Organization of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the organizational structure of the navy comprises the following components:


Leadership Elements

* Chief of Staff of the Navy (), position held by a four-star Admiral or Marine General; and * Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy (), position held by a three-star Vice Admiral or Marine Lieutenant General.


Leadership support elements

The following positions of the leadership support are equivalent to a naval Staff organization. * Inspectorate General of the Navy (), position held by a two-star Rear Admiral; * Advisory Staffs to the Navy Chief of Staff (), position held by a two-star Rear Admiral or one-star Commodore; ** Advisory Staff Coordinator (); ** Advisor to the Navy Chief of Staff on State Resources and Defense (); ** Advisor to the Navy Chief of Staff on National Territorial Affairs (); ** Advisor to the Navy Chief of Staff on Social and Legal Affairs (); ** Advisor to the Navy Chief of Staff on Economic and Management (); ** Advisor to the Navy Chief of Staff on Documents, Strategy, and Operations (); ** Advisor to the Navy Chief of Staff on Science and Technology (). * Naval Planning and Budgeting Staff (); * Naval Intelligence Staff (); * Naval Operations Staff (); * Naval Personnel Staff (); * Naval Logistics Staff (); * Naval Maritime Potentials Staff (); and * Naval Communication and Electronics Staff ().


Central Executive Agencies

The following agencies are central executive agencies, directly subordinated under the Navy Headquarters. Academies and Schools # Indonesian Naval Academy (); # Naval Command and Staff College (); and # Naval Technological College (). Centers # Naval Aviation Center (); # Naval Military Police Center (); and # Naval Frogman Forces Command (). Services # Naval Security and Cipher Service (); # Naval Public Relations Service (); # Naval Communications and Electronic Systems Service (); # Naval Justice Service (); # Naval Operations and Training Service (); # Naval Maritime Potentials Service (); # Naval Personnel Administration Service (); # Naval Education Service (); # Naval Personnel Maintenance Service (); # Naval Medical Service (); # Naval
Materiel Materiel or matériel (; ) is supplies, equipment, and weapons in military supply-chain management, and typically supplies and equipment in a commerce, commercial supply chain management, supply chain context. Military In a military context, ...
Service (); # Naval Weapons and Electronics Materiel Service (); # Naval
Seaworthiness Seakeeping ability or seaworthiness is a measure of how well-suited a watercraft is to conditions when underway. A ship or boat which has good seakeeping ability is said to be very seaworthy and is able to operate effectively even in high sea sta ...
Service (); # Naval Base Facilities Service (); # Naval Procurement Service (); # Naval Logistics Service (); # Naval Finance Service (); # Naval Research and Development Service (); # Naval Information and Data Processing Service (); # Naval Psychology Service (); # Naval Historical Heritage Service (); and # Naval Mental Guidance and Chaplaincy Service ().


Naval Aviation

The Indonesian Naval Aviation Center () is a part of the Navy's Central Executive Agencies led by a Rear Admiral. Puspenerbal serves as the center of guidance to the Navy's aviation units in the field of personnel as well as the readiness of air elements in support of the main missions of the Navy. Indonesian Naval Aviation is not just a combat unit but also participates in various Marine Corps operational duties as well as providing logistics and personnel tactical transport facilities for marine and airbase systems. In carrying out these tasks, Puspenerbal carries out flight functions which include: Air surveillance, anti-submarine, fast logistics support, maritime patrol, marine combat operations, and the provision of material coaching functions. This unit is in charge of supporting naval operations, both for combat operations, SAR operations, and humanitarian relief operations during times of calamities. Marine security to monitor the movement of foreign ships, especially in the archipelagic sea lanes of Indonesia, environmental protection from the pollution of dangerous materials, and the prevention of smuggling and theft of marine wealth is also an important mission carried by Puspenerbal, in cooperation with other air force elements such as TNI-AU and Police. One of the most famous acts of Navy aircraft in the 21st century was when they were involved in evacuating victims of the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake.


Principal Commands under the Navy Chief of Staff

# Indonesian Fleet Command (). The Navy's military strength are spread across several Main Naval Bases () and Naval Bases () throughout Indonesia, these bases and the regional base commands fall under the direct supervision of the fleet commanders' office. Navy Headquarters assigned the numbering of Main Naval Base I to XI according to its respective geographical location from west to east on 1 August 2006 in line with the inauguration of the Teluk Bayur Naval Base in
Padang Padang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of West Sumatra. It had a population of 833,562 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 909,040 at the 2020 Census;Bad ...
,
West Sumatra West Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. West Sumatra borders the Indian Ocean to the west, as well as the provinces of ...
into Main Naval Base II. In 2015, three Naval Base were upgraded to Main Naval Base with the numbering of XII, XIII and XIV. Each Main Naval Base is organized into a number of naval bases and naval stations plus a number of Naval Air Stations (). The Fleet Command is led by a three-star Vice Admiral and responsible for all the three fleet commands. #* 1st Fleet Command () based in Tanjung Uban, Bintan Regency in
Riau Islands The Riau Islands () is a provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia consisting of a group of islands located in the western part of the country. It was established in 2002 after being separated from the neighboring Riau Province. The capit ...
, coterminous with Army's
KODAM Jayakarta The Jayakarta Jaya Military Regional Command (); abbreviated Kodam Jaya is the military district of the Indonesian Army which covers the Greater Jakarta area. Its role is to protect and defend the capital city area with other additional tasks, ...
, KODAM Iskandar Muda, KODAM I/Bukit Barisan, KODAM II/Sriwijaya, KODAM III/Siliwangi, and KODAM XII/Tanjungpura, as well as Air Force's 1st Operational Command West. #* 2nd Fleet Command ( based in
Surabaya Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...
, coterminous with Army's KODAM IV/Diponegoro, KODAM V/Brawijaya, KODAM VI/Mulawarman, KODAM IX/Udayana, KODAM XIII/Merdeka, and KODAM XIV/Hasanuddin, as well as Air Force's 2nd Operation Command Central. #* 3rd Fleet Command () based in Sorong, coterminous with Air Force's 3rd Operational Command East and Army's KODAM XVI/Pattimura, KODAM XVII/Cenderawasih, and KODAM XVIII/Kasuari. # Naval Hydro-Oceanographic Center (); # Indonesian Marine Corps (), with three Marine Forces and an independent Marine Brigade plus support units; # Naval Doctrine, Education, and Training Development Command (): #* Naval Operation Education Command (); #* Marine Corps Education Command (); #* Naval Support Training Command (); #* Basic Military Training and Education Centre (); #* Electronics and Naval Weapon Guidance System Training Centre (); #* Naval Operation Training Centre (); and #* Marine Corps Training Centre (). # Military Sealift Command () coordinates the navy's logistical assets in support of its personnel. #* Military Sealift Force Jakarta #* Military Sealift Force Surabaya #* Military Sealift Force Makassar


Naval territorial organization leadership

Each of the 3 Fleet Commands are led by Rear Admirals as commanding officers with Commodores as chiefs of staff and executive officers, and are organized into: * Main Naval Bases, commanded by a Commodore or Brigadier General (Marine Corps) * Naval Bases (Type B), commanded by a Colonel (Navy / Marine Corps) * Naval Bases (Type C), commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel (Navy / Marine Corps) * Naval Bases (Type D), commanded by a Major (Navy / Marine Corps) * Naval Stations ** Naval Stations Type A, commanded by a Captain (Navy / Marine Corps) ** Naval Stations Type B, commanded by a First Lieutenant (Navy / Marine Corps) ** Naval Stations Type C, commanded by a Second Lieutenant (Navy / Marine Corps) * Naval Maintenance and Repair Facilities, with similar organization as in regular naval bases * Naval Air Stations, with similar organization as in regular naval bases, but report to the Naval Aviation Center The Main Naval Base organization additionally contains a naval security unit and an administrative regiment of one naval police battalion and one Marine Corps base defense battalion.


Service branches

In general, specialty corps in the navy can be divided into 3 levels according to detail of specialization and rank, which are officers (usually has special title of "''Laut''" or "''Marinir''" after their rank), NCOs (specialized corps, including warrant officers) and enlisted (most specialized corps). All officers regardless of specialty corps wear either ''peaked caps'' or specialty coloured '' berets'' with their uniforms. Women officers wear ''crusher caps'' regardless of their specialty. Personnel of the Navy deployed as part of Garuda Contingent wears ''UN Blue beret'' with UN arms pushed to the right in full dress, combat or service uniform regardless of speciality corps. *Seamen (Sea Fleet) Corps (''Korps Pelaut'') (P) – Most wear ''navy blue berets'' excepting submariners that wear ''black berets'', enlisted ratings wear
sailor cap A sailor cap is a round, flat visorless hat worn by sailors in many of the world's navies. A tally, an inscribed black silk ribbon, is tied around the base which usually bears the name of a ship or a navy. Many navies (e.g. Germany) tie the ta ...
s with their dress uniforms, while senior ranked NCOs wear
peaked cap A peaked cap, peaked hat, service cap, barracks cover, or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It d ...
s. Since 2021, the "dixie cup" sailor caps were replaced with a more traditional sailor cap. The enlisted and NCOs categories under are further subdivided into the following specialties: **Nautical Corps (''Bahari'') (BAH); **Navigation Corps (''Navigasi'') (NAV); **Communication Corps (''Komunikasi'') (KOM); **Surface Weapon Systems (''Senjata Atas Air'') (SAA); **Subsurface Weapon Systems (''Senjata Bawah Air'') (SBA); **Telegraphic Corps (''Telegrafis'') (TLG); **Signal Corps (''Isyarat'') (ISY); **Ammunition Corps (''Amunisi'') (AMO); **Naval Artillery (''Meriam'') (MER); **Naval Missiles (''Rudal'') (RDL); **Naval Mines and Demolitions (''Ranjau Laut dan Demolisi'') (RJD); **Torpedo and Depth Charges (''Torpedo dan Bom Laut'') (TRB). *Naval Engineering Corps (''Korps Teknik'') (T). Officers, NCOs, and enlisted wear ''construction helmets'' when performing engineering or transport work. The enlisted and NCOs of electronics corps are further subdivided into the following specialties: **Mechanical Engineering (''Teknik Mesin'') (MES); **Diesel Engineering (Teknik Mesin Diesel) (MDL); **Civil Engineering (''Teknik Bangunan'') (THB); **Electrical Engineering (''Teknik Listrik'') (LIS); **Aircraft Engineering (''Mesin Pesawat Udara'') (MPU); **Aircraft Electrical Engineering (''Listrik Pesawat Udara'') (LPU); **Motorized Transportation (''Angkutan Bermotor'') (ANG); and **General Construction Engineering (''Teknik Konstruksi Umum'') (TKU). *Naval Electronic Corps (''Korps Elektronika'') (E). The enlisted and NCOs of electronics corps are further subdivided into the following specialties: **Electronic Detection (''Elektronika Deteksi'') (EDE); **Electronic Communication (''Elektronika Komunikasi'') (EKO); **Electronic Control (''Elektronika Kendali'') (EKL); **Armaments and Munitions Electronics (''Elektronika Senjata dan Amunisi'') (ESA); **Computer Electronics (''Elektronika Teknik Komputer'') (ETK); and **Armaments Electronics (''Elektronika Teknik Senjata'') (ETA). *Supply Corps (''Korps Suplai'') (S). The enlisted and NCOs of supply corps are further subdivided into the following specialties: **Finance (''Keuangan'') (KEU); **Administration (''Tata Usaha'') (TTU); **Housekeeping (''Tata Graha'') (TTG); and **Supply (''Perbekalan'') (BEK). * Marine Corps (''Korps Marinir)'' (MAR) – Personnel wear magenta berets. Marine corps personnel use army-style ranks and terminologies, despite being part of the navy. The enlisted and NCOs of marine corps are further subdivided into the following specialties: **Infantry (''Infanteri'') (INF); **Amphibious Reconnaissance (''Intai Amfibi'') (IAM); **Artillery (''Artileri'') (ART); **Cavalry (''Kavaleri'') (KAV); **Communications (''Komunikasi'') (KOM); **Combat Engineering (''Zeni'') (ZNI); and **Transport, Logistics and Ordnance (''Angkutan dan Peralatan'') (ABP). *Medical Corps (''Korps Kesehatan'') (K). The enlisted and NCOs of medical corps are further subdivided into the following specialties: **General Nursing (''Rawat Umum'') (RUM); **Dental Nursing (''Rawat Kesehatan Gigi'') (RKG); **Pharmacy (''Farmasi'') (FAR); **Medical Corpsman (''Asisten Paramedik'') (APM); **Public Health Assistant (''Penunjang Kesehatan'') (PNK); **Nursing Assistant (''Asisten Perawat Kesehatan'') (APK); **Dental Assistant (''Asisten Dokter Gigi'') (ADG); and **Pharmacy Assistant (''Asisten Tenaga Kefarmasian'') (ATF). *Special Corps (''Korps Khusus'') (KH). The enlisted and NCOs of special corps are further subdivided into the following specialties: **Physical Fitness (''Jasmani'') (JAS); **Bandsmen (''Musik'') (MUS) - bandsmen wear the general uniform of the Sea Fleet Corps enlisted ratings and petty officers save for the bands of the Marine Corps that wears magenta berets; **Computer Data Processor (''Pengelola Data Komputer'') (PDK); and **Psychology (''Psikologi'') (PSI). *Naval Justice Corps (''Korps Hukum'') (H). Tasked with providing legal service within the Navy on the matters of the Law of the Sea, international law, humanitarian law, human rights law, law enforcement, legal assistance, and legal analysis. Personnel wear similar uniform as Sea Fleet Corps. *
Military Police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. Not to be confused with civilian police, who are legally part of the civilian populace. In wartime operations, the military police may supp ...
Corps (''Korps Polisi Militer'') (PM) – Personnel wear ''light blue berets'' pushed to the left or ''blue MP helmet.'' *Women's Naval Service Corps (''Korps Wanita Angkatan Laut'') (W) - Personnel wear variant ''crusher caps'' with their uniforms or a naval Tricorne for NCOs, naval policewomen wear the light blue beret or blue helmet. If assigned to Marine Corps, they wear the magenta or purple beret depending on unit assignment.


Ground forces


Marine Corps

The Indonesian Marine Corps () officially known as ''KORMAR RI'', "Marinir" or "Korps Marinir" is an integral part of the TNI-AL. It is sized at the military
corps Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was formally introduced March 1, 1800, when Napoleon ordered Gener ...
level serving as the Naval Infantry and main amphibious warfare force of the TNI. Distinguished from other TNI-AL members by their unique qualification badges and insignia and unique magenta berets. It is commanded by a two-star ranked officer. It has three divisions, which are: * ''Pasukan Marinir I'' (PASMAR I) (Marine Force I) based in
Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
. * ''Pasukan Marinir II'' (PASMAR II) (Marine Force II) based in
Surabaya Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...
. * ''Pasukan Marinir III'' (PASMAR III) (Marine Force III) based in Sorong. The three marine divisions are each led by a one star ranked officer.


Special Forces


Kopaska

Formed on 31 March 1962, the Indonesian Navy Frogman Forces Command (''Komando Pasukan Katak'') or Kopaska is a
Frogman A frogman is someone who is trained in scuba diving or swimming underwater. The term often applies more to professional rather than recreational divers, especially those working in a tactical capacity that includes military, and in some Europea ...
unit of the TNI-AL. There are three fleet frogmnan units with detachments specializing in sabotage / anti-sabotage (terror), special operations, combat SAR, EOD and naval minesweeping, underwater demolition and special boat units. KOPASKA's main duties are underwater demolition (raiding enemy ships and bases), destroying main underwater installations, reconnaissance, prisoner snatches, preparing beaches for larger naval amphibious operations, and counter-terrorism. In peacetime the unit deploys a seven-person team to serve as security personnel for VIPs. They wear the maroon beret.


Yontaifib

The Marine amphibious reconnaissance battalions (''Batalyon Intai Amfibi'') or Yontaifib is an elite recon unit within the Indonesian Marine Corps which is tasked for conducting
Amphibious reconnaissance Amphibious reconnaissance consists of ground and naval reconnaissance in the littoral area bordering coastal or ocean areas. History Evolution of the doctrine At the turn of the 20th century, amphibious reconnaissance was first conceived ...
and
Special reconnaissance Special reconnaissance (SR) is conducted by small units, such as a recon team, made up of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units and/or military intelligence organizations. Special reconnaissance teams operate behind ...
. Taifib was previously known as "Kipam" (abbreviation from: "Komando Intai Para Amfibi") which literally means in English: the Para-
Amphibious reconnaissance Amphibious reconnaissance consists of ground and naval reconnaissance in the littoral area bordering coastal or ocean areas. History Evolution of the doctrine At the turn of the 20th century, amphibious reconnaissance was first conceived ...
Commandos. They were officially formed on 13 March 1961 as marine commandos in response to Operation Trikora. Set at a
regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...
al strength of three
battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...
s, "Taifib" was formed as the elite amphibious reconnaissance unit of the Marine Corps, and as a unit of that formation wears magenta berets.


Denjaka

Jala Mangkara Detachment (''Detasemen Jala Mangkara'') or Denjaka is the
special operations Special operations or special ops are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment." Special operations ma ...
and
counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and intelligence agencies use to co ...
forces of the Indonesian Navy. This is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Underwater Special Unit ( Kopaska) and the Marine Corps' Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion ( Taifib). The unit was formed in 1984 by the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces to counter maritime strategic threats including terrorism and sabotage. Despite the specific reason for its formation, as in the case of any other special operations forces around the world, the detachment is also fully trained in conducting reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and clandestine behind-enemy-lines operations. Denjaka's primary task is to develop anti-terrorism, anti-sabotage and other clandestine operations capabilities in support of maritime counter-terrorism, counter-sabotage and other special operations as directed by the commander of the armed forces. Denjaka personnel wear the purple beret.


Equipment

All commissioned ships of the TNI-AL have the
prefix A prefix is an affix which is placed before the stem of a word. Particularly in the study of languages, a prefix is also called a preformative, because it alters the form of the word to which it is affixed. Prefixes, like other affixes, can b ...
''KRI'', standing for (''Ship of the Republic of Indonesia'') and ''KAL'', standing for (Navy Ship) for smaller boats which have a length less than 36m, and made from fiberglass.


Ongoing projects

The Indonesian Navy is progressing the Minimum Essential Force plan to replenish and modernise the fleet, this includes achieving 151 vessels (minimum), 220 vessels (standard), or 274 vessels (ideal), for which it has a blueprint out to 2024. Some of those platforms yet to be delivered include: * ''Scorpène'' class attack submarine, on 2 April 2024,
Naval Group Naval Group is a major French industrial Corporate group, group specializing in navy, naval defense industry, defense design, development and shipbuilding, construction. Its headquarters are located in Paris. Heir to the French naval dockyards ...
announced that the Indonesian Navy has placed an order for two improved Scorpène-class submarine, which will be built by PT PAL in Indonesia. * Red White frigate, variant of Type 31 frigate design and built by PT PAL. **Lead ship under construction. First steel cut on 9 December 2022. Keel laid on 25 August 2023. **Second ship under construction. First steel cut on 5 June 2024. * ''Bung Karno'' class corvette, designated as Helicopter Carrier Guided Missile Corvette or Presidential transport ship, which built by PT Karimun Anugrah Sejati. **Second ship under construction. First steel cut and keel laid on 25 January 2024. * ''Thaon di Revel'' class offshore patrol vessel, in March 2024,
Fincantieri Fincantieri S.p.A. () is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the acquisition of Vard in 2013, Fincantieri group doubled in size to become the fourth largest in the world (2014 ...
and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence have signed a 1.18-billion-euro contract for the supply of two Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessel. The ships to be sold would be among those that already being built for the
Italian Navy The Italian Navy (; abbreviated as MM) is one of the four branches of Italian Armed Forces and was formed in 1946 from what remained of the ''Regia Marina'' (Royal Navy) after World War II. , the Italian Navy had a strength of 30,923 active per ...
in order to accelerate delivery. * ''Raja Haji Fisabilillah'' class offshore patrol vessel, designated as Offshore Patrol Vessel 90M and built by PT. Daya Radar Utama. **Lead ship fitting out. Keel laid on 16 November 2022. Launched on 18 September 2024. **Second ship fitting out. Keel laid on 16 November 2022. Launched on 20 September 2024. * ''Dorang'' class patrol boat, designated as Patroli Cepat 60M (Fast Patrol 60M) built by multiple local shipyard. ** Fifth and sixth ship under construction by PT. Caputra Mitra Sejati shipyard. *KCR-60M Tesco fast missile boat, Sampari class variant with water-jet propulsion and built by PT. Tesco Indomaritim since 2021. **Lead ship fitting out. Launched on 3 November 2022 **Second and third ship under construction. *KCR-60M Palindo fast missile boat, another Sampari class variant with waterjet propulsion and built by PT. Palindo Marine. **Lead ship under construction. The keel laid on 12 June 2024. *BHO-105M hydrographic-oceanographic research vessel, built by PT. Palindo Marine in collaboration with Abeking & Rasmussen. ** Lead ship fitting out. First steel cut on 15 September 2023. Keel laid on 14 December 2023. Launched on 24 September 2024. *SRS Mothership, 1 unit on order, to be built by BTI Defence.


Integrated Maritime Surveillance Systems

With various coastal radars, Indonesia has one of the world's longest Integrated Maritime Surveillance Systems (IMSS). The network covers more than of coastline in the Straits of Malacca and about of coastline in the Sulawesi Sea. The IMSS is a tightly integrated network of ship and shore based sensors, communications devices, and computing resources that collect, transmit, analyze and display a broad array of maritime data including Automatic Identification System (AIS), surface radar, surveillance cameras, Global Positioning System (GPS), equipment health monitors and radio transmissions of maritime traffic in wide operating areas. Redundant sensors and multiple communication paths make the IMSS a robust and capable system. The IMSS enhances Indonesia's ability to detect, track, and monitor vessels passing through territorial and international waters. This capability is crucial to combating piracy,
illegal fishing Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is an issue around the world. Fishing industry observers believe IUU occurs in most fisheries, and accounts for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries. Illegal fishing takes pl ...
, smuggling, and terrorism within and around Indonesia's maritime borders. The IMSS is operated by the Indonesian Navy, and consists of 18 Coastal Surveillance Stations (CSS), 11 Ship-based Radars, two Regional Command Centers, and two Fleet Command Centers (Jakarta and Surabaya).


Chief of Staff of the Navy


Rank structure

In the Navy, as well as in other armed forces branches in Indonesia, the rank consists of
officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
in Indonesian known as "''Perwira''", NCO "''Bintara''" and enlisted "''Tamtama''". The Indonesian Navy is one of few navies in the world which use rank titles similar to its Army, except for
flag officer A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark the position from which that officer exercises command. Different countries use the term "flag officer" in different ways: * ...
s and lower-ranking enlisted sailors. However the Indonesian Marine Corps, which is a branch of the Navy, uses exactly the same rank titles as those of the Army, but still uses Navy-style insignia (for lower-ranking enlisted marines, blue replaces the red colour). Starting 2006, navy personnel assigned abroad are authorized to use foreign service uniform, officially named "Black Navy" (similar to service dress blues in United States Navy) during their service overseas (e.g. during training exercises), which includes sleeve and cuff insignia. The proper title to address rank are as follows, all high-ranking officers (Admiral or Marine General) use their rank followed by "(TNI)", while other officers use their rank followed by respective branch/corps. For example, a Navy captain from fleet forces corps uses the title "''Kolonel Laut Pelaut''" (written as "''Kolonel Laut (P)''"), while a Navy Vice Admiral uses the title "''Laksamana Madya (TNI)''" regardless of their previous branches. Warrant officers, NCOs and enlisted seamen may put their respective branch/corps specialty, for example: "''Pembantu Letnan Dua SAA''" (warrant officer from surface weaponry corps) and "''Kelasi Dua TRB''" (seaman recruit from torpedo corps). All marine corps personnel, general officers inclusive, use their rank followed by "(Mar)". Note: Indonesia is not a member of
NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
, so there is not an official equivalence between the Indonesian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only. Note: The red banding on the rank insignia denotes the personnel holding a command position which is agnostic of rank.


Officers


Enlisted ratings


See also

* List of former ships of the Indonesian Navy *
Indonesian military ranks The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) uses a simplified ranking system for the three branches of Indonesian Army, Indonesian Navy and Indonesian Air Force. Most of the ranks are similar with differences for the rank titles of the high-rank ...
*
Indonesian Army The Indonesian Army ( (TNI-AD), ) is the army, land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,400 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its roots in 1945 when the (TKR) "People's Se ...
*
Indonesian Air Force The Indonesian Air Force (, sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF) is the Air force, aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The Indonesian Air Force is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is headed by the Chief of Staff of th ...


References


External links


Official website

Indonesian Navy ships and equipment (Navy Recognition)
{{Asia topic, Navy of, title=Navies of Asia Military of Indonesia Military units and formations established in 1945 Military history of the Indian Ocean Military history of the Pacific Ocean