Why archipelagic waters make small drones a naval threat

Have Western navies learned enough for a future major-power battle around the Indonesian archipelago?

No; confined island waters make small drones and shore-based threats much more relevant, while promised close-in and laser defenses remain insufficiently deployed.

Ships in the open ocean normally gain maneuver room and impose difficult wind and distance conditions on small drones. In Indonesian and Guadalcanal-like waters, nearby land shortens launch ranges and creates concealment, making land-war drone lessons more relevant. Lasers and close-in weapon systems therefore become more urgent, while full-power naval radars can themselves create harsh electromagnetic conditions for small systems. The concern is that announced defences have not yet appeared across fleets in useful numbers.