New Indigenously Produced Rocket Launcher Will be deployed with the Indonesian Marines

The Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - TNI) test fired rockets from an indigenously produced tactical military vehicle known as the 6X6 Kenderaan Taktis (Rantis) on 6 March.

According to a statement released by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) media centre, the tests were conducted near the Santolo Indah beach located in Garut, West Java.

The 6X6 Rantis is a jointly developed rocket launcher vehicle produced by state-owned arms manufacturer PT Pindad in collaboration with local industry and the MoD's research and development agency.

The tests were conducted with the R-Han 122, an indigenous 15 km-range 122 mm ground-launched GPS-guided rocket. The projectiles, which are powered by hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN) propellant, are also produced by PT Pindad.

Brigadier General Yul Afiandi, who oversees weapons development at the MoD's research and development agency, described the test fires as successful but indicated that the agency is looking to further extend the capabilities of the launcher.

"We will develop the Rantis by increasing either the range or calibre of rockets that the vehicle can handle," he said.

Gen Afiandi also indicated that initial versions of the five-tonne launchers will be deployed with the Indonesian marines (KORMAR). Further variants may be deployed with field artillery units once improvements are made.

  ♞ Janes