Indonesia Unveils Homegrown Stealth Missile Boat and Next-Gen Naval Arsenal at Indo Defence 2025

Indonesia’s defense industry is making waves with a bold push into high-tech naval warfare, as Republikorp, the defense holding company behind Republik Palindo, unveiled a full-scale mock-up of its new Stealth Missile Boat at the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition in Jakarta. This marks a major milestone for the Southeast Asian nation’s ambition to locally develop advanced maritime combat platforms for littoral defense.

The 20-meter-long vessel, designed and built entirely by Republik Palindo, is aimed at countering threats in coastal waters, especially around Indonesia’s strategic straits and chokepoints. While the initial concept was based on earlier studies, actual design work only began in early 2025, showcasing the company’s rapid prototyping and design capabilities.

According to Enrico Aryyaguna, Director of Engineering and Planning at Republikorp, the project reflects Indonesia’s vision to “increase the sovereignty of defence technology in Indonesian hands.” He added that the stealth missile boat is tailored to the Navy’s operational needs—particularly its focus on interdiction missions and anti-ship missile strikes.

Key Features of the Stealth Missile Boat

• Low Radar Signature Trimaran Hull: Made from carbon fibre composites, the vessel’s trimaran design not only reduces radar cross-section but also improves stability and speed.

• High Speed: Powered by two diesel engines (1,618 kW each), plus auxiliary units and surface drives, the craft can reach a top speed of 53 knots, cruising comfortably at 45 knots.

• Shallow Water Operations: With a draught of just 1.2 meters, the boat can navigate tight coastal areas, ideal for Indonesia’s archipelagic geography.

• Armament Options:

  • One remote weapon station—possibly the Aselsan STAMP-2L with a 12.7mm machine gun.

  • Two Roketsan Atmaca anti-ship missiles or four Çakir cruise missiles with a 100 km range.

• Manned and Unmanned Versions: A five-crew manned version and an autonomous variant being co-developed with Milanion (UAE) are in the pipeline.

• Network-Centric Capability: The vessel is designed to operate in coordinated swarms, connected to other naval sensors and systems for precision targeting in real-time.

Aryyaguna confirmed that series production will begin once a contract is secured from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, with testing and evaluation expected to follow quickly.

Expanded Naval Ambitions: Fast Missile Boats, Corvettes, Submarines, and More

Alongside the stealth boat, Republik Palindo also presented scale models of an upgraded KCR-60M Fast Missile Boat, the conceptual Future Corvette, and a compact coastal submarine, highlighting Indonesia’s commitment to modernizing its naval forces.

Improved KCR-60M Fast Missile Boat

• Larger hull (67.8m) and better performance.

• Armed with a 76mm naval gun, dual-canister anti-ship missiles, and 20mm cannons.

• Equipped with S-band and X-band radars.

• 35kt top speed, 2,400 nautical mile range.

Future Corvette Concept

• A 6,000-tonne trimaran with stealth features.

• Features include:

  • 64 VLS cells (8x8 layout).

  • 32 anti-ship missiles in 8 quadruple launchers.

  • Anti-submarine sonar, air defense systems, and a flight deck for helicopters or drones (no hangar).

• Intended for multi-role missions including air defense, surface warfare, and escort roles.

DGK Coastal Submarine

Developed in partnership with Italian firm Drass, this 219-tonne mini-sub is designed for special operations and coastal defense:

• 34m length, 200m dive depth, crew of 9.

• Two torpedo tubes with optional external mounts.

• Range: 2,000nm surfaced, 100+nm submerged.

• Can deploy swimmer delivery vehicles like the DS8 and special forces through a lock-in/lock-out trunk.

• A framework agreement was signed in February 2025, with a main contract expected mid-2025.

Strategic Implications

Republikorp’s surge in naval development reflects a strong shift toward indigenous defense production, reducing dependency on foreign suppliers while enhancing the country’s maritime deterrence in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region. The stealth missile craft, combined with fast attack boats, multi-role corvettes, and compact submarines, positions Indonesia to secure its vast maritime borders more effectively than ever before.

With international collaboration, especially in unmanned systems and submarine technology, and a robust local shipbuilding base, Indonesia is clearly charting a course toward naval self-reliance—a vision that’s no longer just conceptual but visibly taking shape.