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"Surabaya, East Java — Dutch naval engineering company Nevesbu has presented an initial concept design for the modernization of the Indonesian Navy’s four Diponegoro-class corvettes. The proposal focuses on Platform System Integration (PSI) to support upgrades to the ships’ sensor, weapon and command infrastructure. Nevesbu said its PSI concept for the Sensor, Weapon and Command (SEWACO) package was developed in three months. The concept was reviewed by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) and state-owned defence company PT Len Industri, which provided feedback that will be used during the next stage of the program. The next phase is expected to focus on developing a full-scale engineering design.   Modernization Contract The concept design follows a modernization contract signed by PT Len Industri and Thales Nederland in November 2022. The five-year program covers all four Damen-built SIGMA 9113 corvettes and includes the modernization of their integrated mission systems. The program includes a new Thales TACTICOS Combat Management System (CMS) and upgraded sensors. Post-sales support is planned through the Thales Naval Service Centre in Surabaya. The four ships are KRI Diponegoro (365), KRI Sultan Hasanuddin (366), KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (367) and KRI Frans Kaisiepo (368). The corvettes were built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands between 2005 and 2009 and are based on the modular SIGMA 9113 design. They measure about 90.71 metres in length, have a 13.02-metre beam, displace about 1,692 tonnes and can reach a maximum speed of 28 knots.   New Radar and Fire-Control Sensors Concept renderings released by Nevesbu show the lead ship, KRI Diponegoro (365), with changes to its sensor configuration. The imagery appears to show a Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 medium-range tracking and fire-control radar replacing the existing Thales Lightweight Radar/Optronic Director (LIROD). The concept also appears to show a Thales NS50 I-band 4D surveillance radar in place of the ships’ existing Thales MW08 radar. The new sensors are planned to work with the Thales TACTICOS Combat Management System, which will form an important part of the modernized mission-system architecture. The renderings do not indicate major changes to the corvettes’ existing weapons fit.   Existing Weapons The Diponegoro class currently carries a 76 mm Oto Melara gun, Exocet MM40 Block III anti-ship missiles, Mistral surface-to-air missiles, 20 mm guns and lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes. The class has also received earlier upgrades, including the installation of Kingklip hull-mounted sonar, Exocet MM40 Block III missiles and enhancements to the Terma C-Guard decoy system. The existing sensor suite has included the TACTICOS combat management system, MW08 radar, LIROD fire-control radar and Kingklip sonar.   Surabaya Expected to Support Refurbishment If the modernization proceeds to physical refurbishment, installation work is expected to take place in Surabaya, East Java. The city is the homeport of the four Diponegoro-class corvettes and is also being used for other Indonesian Navy modernization work. Nevesbu is already involved in the modernization of the Indonesian Navy’s three Bung Tomo-class light frigates/corvettes. The program is led by PT Len Industri, with Thales Netherlands serving as the combat system integrator. For the Bung Tomo-class modernization, Nevesbu is responsible for platform systems integration, including surveys, design and engineering work and on-site support during construction. Work on the first ship, KRI Usman Harun, is under way in Surabaya, while surveys have also been conducted for the other two ships. The Diponegoro-class project would therefore add another Indonesian Navy modernization program to Nevesbu’s work in Indonesia. Nevesbu specializes in naval architecture, marine engineering and platform systems integration and has a history of work on naval vessels and submarines dating back to 1935."

"KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s naval base at Novorossiysk overnight on September 8–9, hitting several Black Sea Fleet vessels and port infrastructure, according to Ukrainian military statements and satellite imagery. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) said its Active Operations Department conducted the operation with the Ukrainian Navy, Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), Unmanned Systems Forces and other Defense Forces units. The Project 11356 frigate Admiral Essen was hit, causing a fire on its deck superstructure. The Ukrainian Navy said the vessel was struck by a Ukrainian-made Neptune anti-ship missile. Ukraine’s General Staff later reported hits on the Admiral Makarov frigate, Buyan-M small missile ship and Vasily Bykov patrol ship. On September 10, it said further analysis confirmed strikes on the Zheleznyakov small minesweeper, Admiral Essen and the Pyotr Morgunov large landing ship, as well as fuel-oil storage facilities at the port. Satellite imagery released by Ukrainian OSINT group Exilenova+ showed fires and apparent damage at the naval base. Later imagery indicated that the Admiral Essen and Buyan-M were rendered inoperable, although the full extent of damage has not been independently verified. Exilenova+ assessed that the attack involved drones and at least one Neptune missile.   On the night of 9 September, the Ukrainian Defence Forces carried out a combined missile and drone strike on the port of Novorossiysk.In particular, port and military infrastructure were hit.Based on visual confirmation, we have:🔴 A Buyan-M (Project 21631) was hit - a… pic.twitter.com/Or4r7Bib7J — Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) September 10, 2026   The Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov are Project 11356 frigates, while Buyan-M is a Project 21631 missile ship. The vessels are equipped with 3S14 vertical launch systems capable of firing Kalibr or Oniks missiles. Ukraine also reported strikes beyond Novorossiysk. Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi said several Russian missile boats were destroyed in the port, while a Su-33 fighter and Mi-8 helicopter were destroyed near Anapa, about 50 kilometers northwest of Novorossiysk. Two air-defense radar systems near Gelendzhik were also reportedly disabled. Russian officials said debris from intercepted drones hit a church, industrial facilities and residential buildings in Novorossiysk. They reported four deaths, including a child, and about 29–30 injuries, with three injured people reported in critical condition. Fires were also reported at a fuel-oil terminal. Moscow has not provided its own detailed assessment of damage to the named warships. The strike followed another Ukrainian attack on Novorossiysk in August 2026, when Ukraine reported damaging the Admiral Essen, Admiral Makarov, Buyan-M and Vasily Bykov. Novorossiysk has become a major operating base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet after repeated Ukrainian attacks on vessels in Sevastopol. Ukraine’s General Staff said the final assessment of damage from the September 8–9 operation remains ongoing, meaning the precise condition of some of the reported targets has yet to be independently verified."

"TEHRAN — Iran is increasingly using cryptocurrency to keep international trade moving as U.S. sanctions restrict its access to conventional financial networks. The Central Bank of Iran has eased foreign-exchange controls, allowing exporters and importers to use Tether (USDT), Bitcoin and domestic cryptocurrency exchanges for cross-border settlements.   Exporters Get More Flexibility Previously, exporters were required to return a significant portion of their foreign earnings through a government-controlled foreign-exchange platform, often at official rates that were less favorable than open-market rates. This encouraged some businesses to keep funds abroad or outside the formal system. Under the revised framework, exporters can repatriate funds through Iranian crypto exchanges, convert currencies through the open market and use export proceeds directly to help pay for imports such as industrial raw materials and machinery.   Crypto Activity Reaches Billions Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs estimated that nearly $10 billion in cryptocurrency volume moved through Iran in 2025. Chainalysis separately estimated that Iranian wallets received about $7.8 billion during the year. Tether is the most commonly used cryptocurrency for these transactions, largely because USDT is designed to maintain a value linked to the U.S. dollar. Bitcoin is also used, while domestic exchanges provide the infrastructure for transactions. Much of the Tether activity has used the Tron network. Iran's major exchanges account for a large share of domestic activity, with Nobitex handling more than 87% of domestic transaction volume in 2025, according to the supplied data.   Central Bank and Bitcoin Mining Elliptic reported that the Central Bank of Iran acquired at least $507 million in Tether during 2025, based on leaked documents and blockchain analysis. The activity was linked to efforts involving the rial and transactions outside traditional banking channels. Bitcoin mining provides another source of digital assets. Elliptic previously estimated that Iranian miners accounted for about 4.5% of global Bitcoin mining, based on earlier data. The figure should not be treated as a current 2026 estimate. Iran has used state-subsidized electricity for mining, effectively converting electricity into Bitcoin that can be transferred or exchanged to obtain value for international transactions. Licensed miners have previously been required to sell their output to the central bank, although mining has also operated outside official channels.   U.S. Sanctions Target Iranian Crypto Networks The United States has responded by targeting Iranian cryptocurrency networks. The Treasury Department has sanctioned Iranian exchanges including Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin and Ramzinex, citing their alleged roles in sanctions evasion and transactions involving regime-linked entities. Tether has also frozen cryptocurrency in wallets identified as connected to Iranian entities. One reported action involved about $344 million, with additional amounts frozen later. Iran's cryptocurrency system does not replace conventional banking or handle the country's entire trade requirements. However, the combination of relaxed currency controls, domestic exchanges and digital assets gives Iranian businesses another option for moving funds and settling international transactions while traditional financial channels remain restricted."