"The Ministry of Defense, TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces) Headquarters, and TNI AL (the Navy) Headquarters should not underestimate the findings of the three UUVs some time ago. Do not concentrate only on facing COVID-19 and then reduce national vigilance against the dangers of a major war in the South China Sea," she emphasized here on Monday.
Kertopati put forth a suggestion to the government to take strategic steps including formulating regulations on UUV, UAV, and ASSV conducting illegal research in the Indonesian waters.
The UUV findings bright to light the fact that various developed countries were using an unmanned system at sea.
Related news: Lessons learned from foreign UUV discovery for Indonesia's defense
A UUV, labeled “Shenyang Institute of Automation Chinese Academic of Sciences,” discovered by Indonesian Navy soldiers is a special platform designed to detect non-Chinese submarines and record all ships operating in the waters of Southeast Asia and the South China Sea.
The UUV findings also show that Indonesian waters have become a spillover in a military battle between China and the United States and their allies, according to the observer.
"This UUV is included in the underwater research platform category. However, it is possible that China or other countries have launched the USSV (Unmanned Sub-Surface Vehicle) that already carries weapons. This USSV is more dangerous than the UUV," she noted in a written statement.
From the initial analysis, the three drones are estimated to have had a dive time of over 25 thousand hours or closer to three years. The drones were most likely launched in November 2017.
Kertopati reminded the government that the UUV regulations should include the procedures to deal with illegal research in the Indonesian waters, right from the archipelagic waters to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The observer called on the Ministry of Defense, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation, to immediately install underwater detection devices (UUD) across the Indonesian Archipelago Sea Channel (ALKI) and all strategic straits to monitor all underwater traffic, particularly in the Malacca Strait, Natuna Sea, Makassar Strait, Sunda Strait, and Lombok Strait.
Kertopati also stressed on the need for the Indonesian Navy to streamline the education system for its soldiers to maximally equip them to conduct Anti-USSV warfare as part of the anti-unmanned system warfare capability.
Related news: Drone finding challenges RI's defense, remote sensing capabilities: MP
Translator: Syaiful Hakim, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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