Editorial: Indonesia Soon to Field new Submarine Killer Unit

AS-565 Panther (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Franz-Stefan Gady

A new helicopter fleet will greatly boost Indonesia’s underwater detection capabilities.

The Indonesian Navy will re-establish an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aviation squadron, according to IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly.

The article, based on a report published by Indonesia’s state news agency Antara, notes that this will be the first time since the 1970s that the Indonesian Navy will have a naval aviation unit dedicated solely to ASW.

The aviation squadron, named Skuadron Udara 100, will be established to provide operational support for Indonesia’s new fleet of 11 ASW configured AS-565 MBe Panther helicopters, according to Indonesian military officials.

“The Panther now becomes one of the world’s most capable light/medium anti-submarine warfare platforms, with an advanced ASW suite and the capability to operate from corvettes or small frigates,” emphasized Philippe Monteux, Head of Region South East Asia & Pacific at Airbus.

Read the full story at The Diplomat