Indonesia procures unmanned MCM systems for Pulau Fani class

The Inspector 90 USV, which will be operated from the Indonesian Navy's Pulau Fani-class MCMVs. (Exail)

France-based Exail has secured a contract to supply the Indonesian Navy with unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and mine identification and disposal systems, the company announced on 24 June.

Under the contract, Exail will deliver four of its Inspector 90 USVs, and the Seascan and K-Ster mine identification and disposal systems (MIDSs).

These systems will be deployed onboard the Indonesian Navy's German-built mine-countermeasures vessels (MCMVs), KRI Pulau Fani and KRI Pulau Fanildo, both of which were commissioned in August 2023.

The Seascan is a 1.7 m self-propelled remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that is equipped with a high-resolution video camera and sonar to detect and identify underwater mines.

It has an endurance of about 3 hours, a maximum speed of 5 kt, and a maximum operational depth of about 300 m.

The K-Ster is an expendable underwater mine disposal vehicle that is designed to neutralise naval mines from a stand-off distance.

It is armed with a tiltable warhead that is equipped with a shaped explosive charge to destroy naval mines.

Meanwhile, the Inspector 90 is a waterjet-propelled USV that displaces about 8 tonnes. It has an overall length of 9.2 m and a top speed of about 28 kt.

Besides being able to deploy payloads such as the Seascan and K-Ster MIDS, the Inspector 90 can also accommodate a towed side-scan sonar and seafloor survey systems.

As part of the contract, Exail will also supply the two Indonesian Navy vessels with a unified command-and-control centre to operate these systems.

Pulau Fani and Pulau Fanildo