Indonesia’s Lead KCR-60M Craft Loses Missile Attack Capabilities

11 Januari 2018

The Indonesian Navy has removed missile launchers from its lead KCR-60M fast attack craft. The move is the latest in a series of plans to equip the smaller Indonesian naval vessels with Chinese weapons (photo : Keris, pr1v4t33r)

The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) has removed missile launchers from its lead KCR-60M boat, KRI Sampari (628) as part of wider plans to reconstitute the class of fast attack craft.

The vessel, which was floated out by Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL on 21 December 2017 after refurbishment works, has now been installed with a Chinese-made Type 630 close-in weapon system (CIWS) turret on a pedestal at the stern position where a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) used to be positioned. The weapon is a Chinese version of the Russian-developed 30 mm AK-630, and is being marketed by China Shipbuilding Trading Co.

Accordingly, Sampari’ s RHIB has now been repositioned slightly forward to occupy the space that was previously installed with diagonally mounted missile launchers. These launchers were meant to have provided the vessel with anti-ship missile capabilities, and are capable of deploying weapons such as the Chinese made C-705.

Indonesia operates a fleet of three KCR-60M boats that were commissioned between May and September 2014, and is currently anticipating its fourth vessel from PT PAL. The 59.8 m platform is powered by two MTU 20V 4000M73L diesel engines, and can reach a top speed of 28 kt and a standard range of 2,400 n miles (4,444 km) at 20 kt.

(Jane's)