Indonesia Pursues Trio of Additional Submarines

24 Januari 2019

TNI AL's submarine made by HDW and DSME (photo : Kompas)

The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) is currently negotiating with South Korea over a possible purchase of a batch of three additional Type 209/1400 (known in South Korea as the Chang Bogo class, pictured) diesel-electric submarines, which will help meet the MoD’s target for a Minimum Essential Force (MEF).

Discussions by Indonesia’s MoD are centred upon PT Pal and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) over respective workshare portions and technology transfers.

According to the Committee for Defense Industry Policy (KKIP), Indonesia had considered other submarine types to extend its fleet, but commonality with existing 1,400t Nagapasa-class submarines and ease of maintenance make the most sense.

Competing designs believed to have been considered by the KKIP were Turkey’s Reis class (Type 214), Russia’s Kilo class and France’s Scorpene.

The potential deal could be worth up to $1.2 billion for DSME.

This price tag compares with the $1.07 billion that Jakarta spent in December 2011 for a batch of three 61.3m-long submarines of the same type from DSME. The first, KRI Nagapasa, was commissioned on 2 August 2017, while KRI Ardadedali was handed over at DSME’s shipyard on 25 April 2018.

After being assembled indigenously, the third vessel from this 2011 order awaits launch by PT Pal at Surabaya before a scheduled handover to the TNI-AL in 2021.

New naval base in Natuna Island (photo : IMF)

These vessels incorporate an Atlas Elektronik CSU 90 sonar and Indra’s Pegaso radar electronic support measures system and Aries intercept radar.

For the latest submarine batch, Indonesia would like to build modules in-country. These could then be shipped to DSME for assembly.

The TNI-AL also operates two German-built Cakra-class (Type 209/1300) submarines that were commissioned in 1981. In 2017, DSME announced that it had been awarded a $27 million contract to refit KRI Cakra. Work includes upgrading the periscope mast, the hull and a new CMS.

At one time, Indonesia was talking about fielding up to 12 submarines by 2024 under its MEF posture, but this is obviously an impossibility. Instead, the achievable target is now eight boats.

Indonesia remains very concerned about maritime security, as well as China’s exaggerated maritime territorial claims in the South China Sea. In mid-December, Indonesia inaugurated a new military base on Natuna Besar Island, one of the Natuna Islands.

The base located at the southern periphery of the South China Sea will host more than 1,000 personnel. The base is located at the port of Selat Lama and it incorporates a UAV squadron, an army battalion, engineers, artillery and marines.

At the opening ceremony, ACM Hadi Tjahjanto, the Indonesian military’s commander, said the base would work as a deterrent against potential security threats in border areas.

(Shephard)