On June 30, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) fired an Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missile towards a decommissioned troops transport vessel in the Java Sea. 

The SINKEX (Sinking Exercise) is part of the Exercise Armada Jaya (Great Armada) 2023 that involved 18 warships, seven aircraft as well as 5,900 sailors and marines.

The Exocet was fired from a SIGMA 10514-class frigate, KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332), and achieved a direct hit after flying for about 195 seconds at the speed of 530 knots, according to a video released by the Navy. The target is the former KRI Karang Tekok (982), a 69.8 meters long troop transport ship that was decommissioned in 2021.

The missile struck the ship’s starboard side, causing a large explosion that sank the ship in less than two minutes. The firing sequence was witnessed personally by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali.

According to the Naval News site, the SINKEX in question also marked the first time TNI AL’s SIGMA 10514-class frigate launched an Exocet missile. It should be noted that just two months ago TNI AL carried out its first-ever publicized VL MICA anti-air missile firing. 

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The last time TNI AL performed an Exocet live-fire exercise was in October 2019 when a SIGMA 9113-class corvette, KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (367), fired the French-made missile to sink a decommissioned oiler, ex-KRI Sambu (902), at a distance of 7 km in the Java Sea. 

TNI AL has operated Exocet missiles since the 1970s when it received Fatahillah-class corvettes and Mandau-class Fast Attack Craft (FAC) that were equipped with Exocet MM38. TNI AL’s two new domestically-built FACs that were just commissioned last month, KRI Kapak (625) and KRI Panah (626), will also be armed with Exocet.

TNI AL has also expressed its desire for the country’s future submarine fleet to be able to launch surface-to-surface missiles. Hence, if Indonesia chooses Scorpène-class submarines from France, it is very likely that the sub-launched version of Exocet, SM39, will be included in the contract. 

In the future, the Indonesian Air Force is also expected to operate the air-launched variant of the Exocet, AM39, with the introduction of second-hand Mirage 2000-5 and brand new Rafale fighter aircraft.

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