Fisherman’s discovery near Gili Trawangan raises fresh questions over foreign devices in Indonesian waters
Indonesia is investigating a torpedo-like object recovered near the Lombok Strait, a strategically important maritime route, after a fisherman found the device off the coast of Gili Trawangan. The case has drawn attention because of the waterway’s significance and the possibility that the object may have been used for underwater monitoring.
Fisherman Made the Initial Discovery
The object was recovered on April 6 after a fisherman found it in waters north of Gili Trawangan in West Nusa Tenggara. Indonesian reports said it measured about 3.7 meters long and 65 centimeters wide, making it large enough to immediately trigger concern among local authorities.
Navy Has Opened a Formal Investigation
The Indonesian navy said it will carry out a detailed technical examination to determine the device’s origin, function, and any data it may contain. Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Tunggul said the military remains committed to protecting Indonesia’s territorial waters from unauthorized activity, including the use of underwater equipment by outside parties.
Early Checks Found No Explosives
Initial screening by the West Nusa Tenggara Police bomb squad found no explosive or radioactive materials in the object. Mataram naval base chief Asep Tri Prabowo said the device is under strict supervision and will be sent to Jakarta for further analysis, suggesting the authorities see it as a sensitive security matter rather than a routine maritime find.
Object May Be Linked to Current-Monitoring Technology
Local reporting cited markings that appeared to point to the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and some reports suggested the object may have been designed to measure ocean current speed. Indonesian authorities have not yet publicly confirmed that identification, so for now it remains part of the early reporting rather than a final official conclusion.
Not the First Such Discovery in Indonesian Waters
This is not the first time Indonesian waters have yielded a suspicious foreign device. In 2021, a fisherman found a seaglider in South Sulawesi that the military suspected was being used for oceanographic research. That earlier case has added to concerns that strategically important Indonesian sea lanes are attracting increasing underwater surveillance interest.
The discovery near Lombok Strait highlights how Indonesia’s strategic waters are becoming more sensitive in a period of growing regional competition. For Indonesians, the case underscores the importance of maritime vigilance and faster technical investigation of unusual devices found at sea. For Singaporeans, it is another reminder that key Southeast Asian shipping and submarine routes are becoming more strategically contested, with even civilian discoveries carrying wider security implications.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Jakarta Globe (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia Navy Probe, Lombok Strait, Gili Trawangan, Torpedo Like Object, Maritime Security, West Nusa Tenggara, Underwater Device
