The Indonesian Navy reported that on March 31, 2026, a russian naval group arrived in the Jakarta area. It includes the Gromkiy missile corvette, a Project 636.6 diesel-electric submarine capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles, and the Andrey Stepanov ocean-going tug.
The visit is officially described as an effort to "strengthen defense cooperation" between russia and Indonesia, with few additional details disclosed, according to Janes. However, this deployment comes against the backdrop of previously discussed but unrealized Kremlin plans to lease an Indonesian airbase capable of hosting Tu-95MS strategic bombers and Il-76 transport aircraft.
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The Gromkiy corvette belongs to Project 20380 and is primarily armed with Kh-35U anti-ship missiles, typically carried in an eight-cell configuration.
Project 636.6 submarines, in their standard configuration, can carry up to four Kalibr-family cruise missiles, including the 3M14 land-attack variant and the 3M54 anti-ship version.
Discussions about leasing an Indonesian airbase date back to April 2025, when attention focused on the Manuhua airfield near Australia. russian Tu-95MS and Il-76 aircraft first landed there in 2017. According to Janes, russia later repeatedly requested access for long-range aviation operations, and Indonesia granted such permissions.
However, plans to lease an airbase near Australia may have lost relevance after Operation Spiderweb on June 1, 2025, which resulted in significant losses for russia's strategic aviation.
It is also worth recalling that in February 2022, Indonesia abandoned plans to purchase russian Su-35S fighters and instead selected French Rafale aircraft. At the same time, in January 2025, Indonesia joined the BRICS bloc, while historically remaining a buyer of russian aviation equipment in Asia.
According to open-source data, Indonesia currently operates several Soviet- and russian-made aircraft, including two Su-27SK, three Su-27SKM, two Su-30MK, and nine Su-30MK2 fighters.
The 413th Raid Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces is currently raising funds to support its anti-air UAV unit. Donations can be made via the following details:
Jar link: https://send.monobank.ua/jar/5dZxSu9x4B
Card number: 4874 1000 2019 7854
Ivan Kyrychevskyi, serviceman of the 413th Raid Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine and weapons expert at Defense Express.
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