TNI Fields PT PAL's 'Berani Mati' Attack USV in Amphibious Exercise, With Defense Minister Endorsement
The unmanned surface vessel was deployed in a combat simulation at Latopsfib 2026 involving 1,718 personnel; the defense minister called the operation a success and a marker of national defense technology progress.
The Indonesian military showcased the 'Berani Mati' unmanned attack vessel, developed with state shipbuilder PT PAL, during the peak of the 2026 Amphibious Operations Exercise (Latopsfib) held in the waters of Teluk Naga, Banten, on 12 November. The exercise involved 1,718 Navy and Air Force personnel, and the USV was deployed in a simulated combat scenario.
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin described the operation as a success and said it marks progress in national defense technology development, while Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto framed the trial of autonomous vessels as part of modern combat technology development. The exercise release came from state news agency ANTARA on the same evening.
The public endorsement from both the minister and the commander signals political backing for a national autonomous-vessel program. Such platforms generate a supporting data workload, from sensor and video feeds to mission logs and maintenance documentation, and that software layer is typically where local integrators fit into programs led by domestic manufacturers. No procurement package tied to the USV program has been announced so far, and the operation's success is a government statement rather than an independently verified assessment.