Neptune's Switchblade · 5:49am Dec 26th, 2020
News broken by Ukrainian Media today: Indonesia had agreed to buy an unknown number of RK-360MC Neptune Cruise Missiles for Coastal Missile Launch Batteries. The Neptune is a subsonic cruise missile that can be used against land targets and anti-ship duties. It's based off the Russian Kh-35 but with an extended range and modernized electronics.
Now this may seem like a less effective missile than the K-300P Bastion-P which launches the P-800 Oniks Supersonic Anti-ship missile that's operated by Vietnam, especially with a smaller warhead, but in reality these 2 operated differently.
Like most Russian missiles like the Zircon, the P-800 Oniks is a "Streaker" Missile. It relies on incredible speed to get past a ship's defenses and hit hard with a bigger warhead.
The Neptune/Kh-35 (NATO Codename: Switchblade which is why I called this "Neptune's Switchblade"), like the Tomahawk, Harpoon, and Exocet, are "Dancer" missiles. They're suppose to be slower so they can be able to maneuver through obstacles like islands and evade oncoming missiles and targeting systems. These guys are excellent in punching holes right on the waterline with precision.
While I would prefer something like the RBS-15, the Neptune is a cost effective solution for immediate threats. These missiles are incredibly durable who could be sitting in storage for a long time and still be operable, and they're easy to maintain. As a bonus, it comes with Transfer of Technology, in this case, the engines used for the cruise missiles. Ideal for us since we're trying to make our own cruise missile.
Meanwhile, the Indians are still trying to negotiate to sell the BrahMos to Indonesia which is a "Streaker" Missile. I would actually be okay with acquiring them, but it's going to take a lot of backroom negotiations and waiting for CAATSA to be eased. For me, it's ideal to have both "Streaker" and "Dancer" Land-Based anti-ship batteries. Especially with the idea of Indonesia acquiring Dassault Rafales being more and more like a reality when the Indians are working to make it possible for Rafales to carry the BrahMos-NG.
During the talks to acquire the 8 MV-22 Block C Ospreys, Indonesia raised the question to see if the US is willing to also sell the MQ-1C Gray Eagle and the MQ-9 Reaper/Predator B. No idea what's America's response, we'll see.
Down at the Ground Forces, Ukraine has also agreed to help Indonesia upgrade "300 of Indonesia's PT-76s". That made me pause because Indonesia is suppose to have only 170 PT-76s. Then it occurred to me (As well as remembering the government's bullshit keeping everything secret, even if they're not that important), maybe those 170 PT-76s are only the ones Indonesia received on paper and official. I did remember when I was a kid where I visited a large motor pool full of just PT-76s. Only reason why my dad and little me were able to see them was because my dad was friends with the base commander.
So while Indonesia officially has 170 PT-76s, there's actually close to around 300 of them whether they're active or just sitting in storage. The upgrades will include replacing the 76mm guns with Cockrill 90mms, new combat management systems, Zaslon Active Protection Systems, and also the Falarick 90 ATGM.
It honestly makes sense. While Indonesia would prefer buying like 300 BMP-3s (And maybe modernized BVP-2s though they're different from the BMP-3 and the PT-76), CAATSA is still lingering around so it's better and more cost effective to upgrade the old hardware we have until the US gives the green light to let us make deals with the Ruskies. China isn't going anywhere, so the immediate threat are terrorist groups, insurgency, and civil unrest. Instead of sending the newer and more expensive BMP-3s to assault an insurgent hideout, just have a squad of PT-76s with 90mm guns to provide fire support.
If the enemies are able to smuggle, lets say, RPG-7s into Indonesian territory and are assaulted by a Mechanized Unit, the Zaslon APS is more than enough to intercept the rockets and save the old tanks. If by chance the rockets manage to get past the Zaslon APS and hit the PT-76s thin armor, the downside is the crew may get injured or killed. Upside is the crew survives and the tanks can either be repaired or scrapped. It's an old tank to begin with, not really a loss there.
RK-360MC Neptune
BrahMos (Land-Based Version)
PT-76
