Kopaska Special Forces

[Vikki Nagindas]

Kopaskawas officially established on 31 March 1962 by President Sukarno to help his campaign Operation Trikora in Western New Guinea.[3] However, in 1954, Captain (Navy) Iskak had an idea to form a frogman unit in the Navy which eventually act as precursor to Kopaska.

Early Kopaska members Captain (Navy) Urip Santoso, Lieutenant (Navy) Joko Suyatno, and PO1C EMP Joseph trained with the UDTs in the United States. The Indonesian Navy also sent personnel to the Soviet Union to learn from Soviet Navy frogmen and demolition teams. The tradition of overseas training has continued with a few men from the unit travelling each year to Coronado, California, and Norfolk, Virginia, to participate in SEAL training. Returning to Indonesia, these men then recruit new personnel for Kopaska.

Of the troops assigned to the Trikora campaign, the three Army personnel from Kodam Jaya (Maksum, Alex Sunaryo, and Budi Suroyo) attended Seaman School in the Naval Education and Training Command (Kodikal) and became regular members of Kopaska. 18 of 21 RPKAD wanted to stay with the Navy, but the Commander of RPKAD (Major General Mung Pahardimulyo) did not approve the transfers. Instead, he accommodated the ex-KOPASKA members by creating a new special unit in Kopassus SAT GULTOR 81-2 Batt.

The initial recruitment process takes place annually at all Indonesian naval bases, so location is not a concern. Candidates who fulfill the initial criteria are then brought to the Kopaska Training Center to participate in the selection process. Of the 300-1500 candidates, only 36 to 20 actually complete the initial selection process. Those who pass the initial selection then receive advanced training at the Kopaska training center. Those who pass the advanced training then graduate to become a member of the Kopaska Unit. Only 0-20 personnel per year graduate to become a full member of Kopaska.

The training process lasts ten months, divided into four continual training phases: physical endurance/physical training, basic underwater training, commando training, and parachute (Airborne) training. The training lasts with a phase called the "Hell Week" where Kopaska trainees are beasted and are forced to undergo brutal special forces training until exceeding average human resilience. This applies to all ranks applying to join the Kopaska unit.

Each phase of training consists of a similar process. For example, the first phase of training is physical or endurance training. Each candidate receives a daily physical training program, such as: running, marching, push-ups, sit ups, pull-ups, swimming, etc. The training programs are unscheduled, so the instructor can order physical training at random. The last week of this training each candidate must be able to demonstrate strength through trials such as cross-Strait swimming and rowing to Laki Island at night with little food or sleep. This training usually exploits the candidate's physical and psychological strength.

The remaining training phases include combat swimming, infiltration through submarine torpedo tube, long range combat patrol, close quarter battle, infiltration using CRRC or RIB, intelligence course, parachute training (including combat free-fall, static line, and HAHO/HALO), pathfinder, trap making and survival techniques.

Kopaska use commercial scuba diver equipment. All personnel are also equipped with lightweight PRO-TEC helmets, Level III MICH helmets, and some of them wearing Airframe Helmets and by Crye Precision and FAST Helmets by OpsCore. They use close circuit, semi close circuit and open circuit aqualung equipment, a scooter or sub-skimmer craft for underwater mobility, and an Avon Sea Raider Rigid Inflatable Boat or Hull (By deflating the hull, a Sea Raider can also can be used as a sub-skimmer craft). They also have X38 Combat Boat and Sea Shadow.

Currently, the unit has approximately 300 personnel, divided into two groups. One group is attached to the western fleet, based in Jakarta and the other group is attached to the eastern fleet, based in Surabaya, East Java. When called for, they conduct limited support search and rescue missions. They have also been deployed overseas as part of United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Early plans, included a proposed "human torpedo" campaign. An attack boat was equipped with a MiG-17 "Fresco" ejection seat, powered by a pair of Johnson 100pk and armed with two torpedo warheads. Known as Project Y within Kopaska circles, this project was supervised by Lt. Commander (Navy) Urip Santoso (Vice Adm Ret), one of the founders of Kopaska.

On March 16, 2011, an Indonesian merchant ship, MV Sinar Kudus, carrying nickel ore from South Sulawesi to Rotterdam was hijacked by a group of Somali pirates at the coast of Somalia.[7] After some negotiations, the ship owner eventually agreed to pay a ransom and the pirates freed the vessel and its crew.[8] However, upon learning that the ship was carrying valuable minerals, another groups of pirates attempted to re-hijack the ship, and made an aggressive fast approach to retake MV Sinar Kudus. After MV Sinar Kudus signalled "mayday", a group of Kopaska elite soldiers were deployed from KRI Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma to secure the ship. Three fast boats were deployed. But fearing that it may not be quick enough, a group of Kopaska were deployed using Bo 105 helicopter to strafe the oncoming pirates. The remainder of Kopaska onboard the boats finished the pirates.[9][10]

Since 2006, Kopaska have been wearing their own pixelated camouflage design that often called "Kopaska Digital". A second version has also appeared utilizing lighter colors, the second version has a trident or three-pronged harpoon being grasped by a frog incorporated into the pixelated design. Kopaska Digital first appeared is in 2006, the uniform was made by PT. Sritex and designed by PT. Mustika.

Korean weapons giant Hanwha brokered two deals to export SNT-Motiv machine guns to TNI, The first deal, in 2006, saw 110 K3s sold to TNI. Hanwha then arranged the export of a further 803 K3 machine guns in 2011. The 'light machine guns' are easy to hold and to fire, according to the company's promotions. K3 weapons are used by the Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces groups. Two divisions of Yonif Raiders, permanently stationed in West Papua, carry these weapons 'in the field'.

SNT Motiv has sold almost 2000 of these K7 machine guns to Indonesia, as of 2023. Marketed as 'good for covert operations' due to the small size and low noise relative to the killing power, the K7 is used by Yonif Raider troops stationed in West Papua. Kopassus and Kopaska are also known to use this weapon.

The SIG SG550 is an assault rifle with a number of variations. It is listed on the SALW guide as being present in Indonesia, with some sources indicating it is used by special forces groups such as Kopassus and Kopaska.

The Škorpion is a machine pistol originally developed in 1959. It is listed on the SALW guide as being present in Indonesia, and some unconfirmed reports indicate it is used by Indonesian special forces units such as KOPASSUS and KOPASKA.

The F-16C is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft developed for the US airforce by General Dynamics, who sold the manufacturing arm to Lockheed Martin in 1993. The plane carries a Vulcan 20mm cannon and 11 places for missiles and other equipment. Indonesia ordered 24 in 2012 as military aid, upgraded to block-52 version (manufactured by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin). Pictured above is an Indonesian Airforce F-16 at an RAAF base in Australia. TNI-AL, the Indonesian Airforce, now has a total of 34 of these multi-million dollar weapons. Below, the same fighter jet (with a different registration) lands in West Papua.

The FN High Power is a semi-automatic handgun designed by American arms manufacturer Browning, and finished by FN Herstal. It is one of the most commonly used military pistols in the world and is the standard issue sidearm for the Indonesian armed forces, including special forces group Kopassus and Kopaska. It is also produced under license by Indonesian arms manufacturer Pindad PT as the P1.

Indonesia has revealed the latest in its indigenous Kendaraan Tempur Bawah Air (KTBA) series of Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) developed for the elite naval special forces unit Kopaska.

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KTBA Mk.II & Mk.IV

KTBA Mk.II

The latest KTBA chariot is a development of earlier models. The Mk.I and Mk.II are twin seat affairs with externally mounted diver propulsion devices. The larger -III and -IV versions have twin in-built propulsors on the rear hydroplane and can carry 3-4 combat divers at 3-4kts submerged. All designs are easily recognised by the distinctive bow fairing with shark-gills and upright windscreen (often without glass). Materials are predominantly fibreglass.

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An Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut; TNI-AL) boarding party with Captain Mal Wise, Australian Commander Task Group after a simulated boarding exercise conducted on HMAS Perth (FFH 157), during Exercise KAKADU 2012. Interesting to note the integration of Indonesian Naval SOF, KOPASKA (Komando Pasukan Katak; Frogman Commando Team), operators with a regular Navy boarding party. Australian boarding parties often operate in a similar way, with members of a Clearance Diving Team attached.

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