The Pindad SS1-V1 left not only a definite hole in the US Marine Corps' body armor, but also a big impression on participants of the recent Rim of Pacific joint military training in the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base, Hawaii.

Admiration for the Indonesian-made assault rifle was sparked during a zeroing test on July 10. A zeroing test, conducted at a range of 25 meters, measures the power of each participating corps before the joint training begins.

Major Indra Fauzi Umar, who was among delegations of 28 countries at the joint training event, said Indonesia was put in one group with the US, Australia and New Zealand during the test. The US Marine Corps brought the M4 with them and Australia the Steyr AUG, while New Zealand retreated from the test.

According to him, the plate in the body armor vest is 1.75 centimeters thick. The M4 and Steyr AUG were only able to bend the plate, but failed to penetrate it. However, the SS1-V1 did the job successfully, leaving a hole in the plate.

Read our Longform story 'Shooting the moon' here.

(The Jakarta Post/ Anton Hermansyah)