A former East German landing ship was sunk by the Indonesian Navy during a live-fire exercise that combined Exocet missiles, F-16 fighter jets and naval artillery in the Java Sea.
The Indonesian Navy sank a former landing ship linked to East Germany during a combat exercise in the Java Sea, in a show of force that brought together warships, fighter aircraft and coordinated attacks against targets at sea and on land.
The operation took place on April 23, 2026, in the waters of Karimun Java, as part of the Latopslagab exercise conducted by the TNI AL. The target was the ex-KRI Teluk Hading, used in a sinking exercise known as SINKEX.
LATOPSLATGAB KARANG WELANG 2026 pic.twitter.com/Dh421PhgYl
— TNI Angkatan Laut (@_TNIAL_) April 26, 2026
According to the Indonesian Navy, the action was intended to test the readiness of the country’s armed forces for modern warfare scenarios. The exercise involved 20 KRI warships and F-16 aircraft from the Indonesian Air Force, in a major interoperability operation between naval and air assets.
Exocet missiles and F-16s against the same target
The first phase of the exercise included the launch of Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles by Indonesian Navy vessels. Then, three F-16 fighter jets took part in an air-to-sea operation, dropping MK-12 bombs against the former ship.
The sequence of attacks resulted in the rapid destruction of the target, according to the TNI AL. The maneuver demonstrated the ability of Indonesian forces to coordinate different combat platforms in a single operation, combining sensors, ships, aircraft and precision weapons.
Naval artillery also targeted positions on land
In addition to the sinking of the ex-KRI Teluk Hading, the Indonesian Navy conducted naval artillery fire against land targets on Gundul Island. The activity involved elements of the TNI AL strike force, using modern high-precision firing systems.
For Indonesian authorities, the exercise was more than a technical test. The presence of Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto and senior military officials reinforced the strategic nature of the demonstration.
A message of readiness in the Java Sea
Indonesia presented the operation as a real show of force and a form of deterrence against potential threats to national sovereignty. The exercise also marked the first SINKEX carried out by the Indonesian Navy since May 2024.
By sinking the former LST, the TNI AL sought to show that its naval and air assets can operate in an integrated way in modern combat scenarios, combining maritime strike, air support and fire against land targets.
Source and images: Indonesian National Armed Forces Navy.
