MSI DS Seahawk and its partner BTI Defence recently completed installation and testing of MSI DS Seahawk LW30M A1 remote controlled weapon station (RCWS) to the Indonesian Navy’s Pari-class patrol boat also known as Type PC-40 patrol boat. The system is fitted to KRI Surik-645, KRI Pari-849, KRI Sembilang-850, KRI Sidat-851, dan KRI Pollux-935. The PC-40 class is a lightly armed variant of the Indonesian Navy’s missile-capable Clurit-class (KCR-40M-class) fast missile boat. Doing so is certainly a step in the right direction for the Navy which expects to realise operational and logistic benefits from the significant level of standardisation in these patrol boats.
The Seahawk LW30M A1 is a remote controlled weapon station made by MSI-Defence Systems. The remote controlled weapon station is a gyro-stabilized, electrically operated, self-contained, single cannon mount featuring a choice of weapon, control mode and sights. The Seahawk weapon options include of a 14.5mm Heavy Machine Gun (HMG), 25mm or 30mm cannons. Trunnion module mounting point allows for additional modules to be equipped in addition to the main armament, such as: Long Range Acoustic Device, Laser Dazzler, Dual Martlet LMM missile pack and Coaxial 7.62mm option. It was designed to defend Royal Navy frigates from fast inshore attack craft armed.
Indonesia continues to invest money for the modernization of its naval forces and strengthen its maritime capabilities. For an archipelagic nation like Indonesia, large numbers of patrol craft are essential for ensuring maritime security in inshore and offshore waters. Towards this goal, there are a number of patrol boat programmes underway for 28m, 40m and 60m platforms as part of Indonesia’s ongoing armed forces modernisation programme to 2024. The PC-40 program designed and manufacture by local companies including PT Palindo Marine in Batam and PT Caputra Mitra Sejati (PT CMS).
The Pari-class (Type PC-40) is a patrol boat class of the Indonesian Navy. The newbuild PC-40 aluminium-hulled patrol boats have a near identical external appearance, there are significant detail differences in hull, mechanical and engineering systems and material specifications as well as internal layouts between hulls from different yards as yards have opted to exercise their design preferences. It has an overall length of 46.5 m, an overall beam of 7.9 m, and a hull draught of 1.7 m. The boat can accommodate a crew of 35 and can carry one rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) at the stern.
