As a maritime nation bridging the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, Indonesia has a need to defend its territorial integrity both in times of peace and war. The Minimum Essential Force (MEF) 2010-2024 program states that Indonesia requires 12 submarines capable of effectively operating to safeguard Indonesian waters to the fullest extent. However, Indonesia currently only possesses four submarines, namely one 47-year-old Cakra-class submarine and three Nagapasa-class submarines aged 3-7 years. The dynamics of armament in the Indo-Pacific, where competition among major powers will introduce sophisticated submarines such as the Virginia Class (Australia) and Jin class (China), demand Indonesia to conduct balancing. One form Indonesia’s of balancing policy is the acquisition of Scorpène® Evolved Full LiB submarines from Naval Group, France.
Naval Group and PT PAL Indonesia signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia for the procurement of two Scorpène® Evolved-class submarines.
In early April 2024, Naval Group and PT PAL Indonesia signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia for the procurement of two Scorpène® Evolved-class submarines. Previously, in 2021, Indonesia and France elevated their cooperation level by agreeing to a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA). Then, in February 2022, Naval Group and PT Pal also agreed to a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA). The signing of the DCA and SPA serves as the necessary legal framework to ensure effective cooperation between countries and companies. Naval Group has a track record of exporting Scorpène submarines to four countries, namely Chile, Malaysia, Brazil, and India. Meanwhile, PT Pal has exported warships to the Philippines and received orders from the UAE.
Diagram 1: Comparison of Submarine Ownership in 12 Countries
Source: IISS Military Balance, 2024
DKLO / TKDN Requirements
Law No. 16 of 2012 mandates trade balance, local content, and offset (IDKLO) requirements in procurement from abroad. To fulfil these requirements, the construction of Scorpène submarines will be carried out by PT PAL with technology transfer and assistance from Naval Group, utilizing 100% of PT Pal's assets through reuse. Additionally, the procurement of these submarines includes training simulators, crew training, instructor and operator simulator, integrated logistic support, and materials for conducting three missions over one year. Indonesia also targets submarine maintenance self-sufficiency at the depot level domestically, following in the footsteps of Chile.
Picture 1: Illustration of Scorpène Submarines
The Scorpène submarine has a length of 72 meters and weighs between 1600-1800 tons, capable of operating at speeds exceeding 20 knots underwater and diving to depths exceeding 300 meters. It can operate in shallow and deep waters, relying on high-capacity lithium-ion batteries and supported by the SUBTICS combat management system and Caterpillar propulsion technology, enabling silent and radar-difficult detection operations. The Scorpène can operate independently for 78-80 days with an operational level of over 240 days per year. Operating this submarine requires a crew of 31 and is equipped with 6 weapon launch tubes capable of firing 18 torpedoes and missiles.
The acquisition of Scorpène submarines is a crucial step in catching up with Indonesia's modernization of its defence equipment, which currently stands at about 65% of the total MEF target.
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ISI Modern Warfare and Military Technology Division