International Seminar and Submarine Showcase 2024: Quo Vadis Indonesia’s Submarine Acquisition

On May 14-15, 2024, the Submariner Club Indonesia (SCI) hosted an international seminar and exhibition, inaugurated by the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Muhammad Ali and sponsored by approximately nine submarine manufacturers and vendors. This event took place just a month after the contract signing between the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and France's Naval Group in April. Given the event's timing and scale, some parties have questioned its motives. This paper will address three key points: first, the rationale for discussing submarine technology in an international forum; second, the Indonesian Navy's submarine acquisition plans and their strategic considerations; and third, the range of submarine technologies produced by the event's sponsors. The Executive Director of ISI was invited to moderate the two-day event alongside Janet D.E. Gibson, the Executive Director of the National Air and Space Power Center of Indonesia (NASPCI).

A dialogue involving all stakeholders is essential to understand the critical considerations...

Submarines hold strategic value due to their deterrence effect, as both conventional and nuclear weapons. However, submarines vary in type, weight, power, diving capabilities, and armaments; tailored for different missions such as intelligence, surveillance, striking force, and interception. Submarines cannot operate optimally in geographic conditions different from their country of origin, particularly in Indonesia's predominantly shallow seas. A dialogue involving all stakeholders is essential to understand the critical considerations behind technology selection such as mission requirements, geographic conditions, appropriate technologies, and obligations like countertrade, local content, and offsets. In Indonesia, one of the most contentious debates is the choice of submarine propulsion technology, whether to opt for air-independent propulsion (AIP), lithium batteries, or a hybrid of both choices.

Safety is a primary concern for submariners due to operational conditions resembling spacecraft's more than surface warships. The tragic sinking of the Nanggala underscored the critical need for dedicated submarines rescue vessel, which cannot be replaced by agreements with neighbouring countries. In this aspect, Indonesia lags behind other Asian submarine operators. India procured rescue submarines almost simultaneously with its first submarine post-independence, the Project-641 in 1967. In Southeast Asia, Singapore acquired Sjoormen-class submarines in 1997, followed by a rescue submarine in 2009, while Malaysia procured a rescue submarine in 2013, four years after acquiring Scorpene-class submarines.

In the context of Indonesia, the need for submarine rescue capabilities was only incorporated into the Minimum Essential Forces modernisation plan for 2019-2024. Indonesia has already undertaken three rounds of submarine procurement. The first was the acquisition of Type 209/1300 submarines from Germany in 1981. The second was the procurement of Type 209/1400 submarines from South Korea in 2017 through a technology transfer agreement that was divided into two contract phases. However, in 2024, Indonesia opted not to continue the second contract with South Korea and instead signed a third procurement contract with the Naval Group for Scorpene evolved technology. By 2031, Indonesia's submarine fleet will expand to seven vessels—the largest among Southeast Asian operators. Currently, the Ministry of Defence plans to acquire two more submarines, one rescue vessel, and one unmanned submarine. In 2023, Indonesia signed procurement contract with United Kingdom for submarine rescue vessel, but it is yet to be effective.

Read more: Scorpene acquisition by Indonesia

For Indonesian policymakers, there are several challenges related to future submarine technology procurement

For Indonesian policymakers, there are several challenges related to future submarine technology procurement. First, there is a significant gap between the Minimum Essential Forces (MEF) plan, which aims for 12 submarines, and the current reality of having only seven submarines, resulting in a shortfall of five submarines. Second, the delivery of the new Scorpene submarines will be completed over the next seven years, prompting aspirations for "interim" submarines, the urgency and costs of which need a thorough evaluation. Third, there is the need to mitigate potential penalties from international arbitration processes resulting from the contract cancellation with DSME Korea. Fourth, there is the challenge of adopting a new doctrine for the operation of both manned and unmanned submarines.

Not all the issues mentioned were thoroughly addressed during the seminar. Some matters need to be resolved within the confines of the Indonesian Navy and the Ministry of Defence, rather than in front of international partners. Nonetheless, the international submarine seminar and exhibition deserve recognition. Firstly, the event was organised by former submariners under the auspices of SCI and executed in just four months without utilising the state budget. Secondly, the event was well-attended by the target participants and received full support from prospective partners, including France's Naval Group, which already holds a procurement contract. There is hope that similar events can be organised for other advanced technologies. The adage "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away" aptly applies to the submariners.

Industry	Country	Submarine Type	Number of Crews	Displacement (ton)	Propulsion	Endurance (days)	Depth (m)	Maximum Speed on submerged (kn)	Maximum Speed on surface (kn)	Weaponry	Operator
Naval Group	France	Scorpene Evolved	31	2000	LiB and Diesel	80	300	20	11	6x torpedo tubes, 18 total weapon payload for heavyweigh torpedo, sub-launched anti-ship missile, and mines	-
Naval Group	France	Scorpene (AM-2000)	31	2000	AIP and Diesel	71	300	20	11	6x torpedo tubes, 18 total weapon payload for heavyweigh torpedo, sub-launched anti-ship missile, and mines	-
Naval Group	France	Scorpene (CM-2000)	31	1700	Diesel Electric	50	300	20	11	6x torpedo tubes, 18 total weapon payload for heavyweigh torpedo, sub-launched anti-ship missile, and mines	Chile, Brazil Malaysia, India,
Thyssenkrupp	Germany	Type 212	27	1800	AIP and Diesel	84	250	20	12	6x torpedo tubes, 13 total weapon payload for heavyweigh torpedo, sub-launched missile, and mines	Jerman, Italia
Thyssenkrupp	Germany	Type 212NFS	27	1800	LiB, AIP and Diesel	improved from previous model	250	20	12	6x torpedo tubes, 13 total weapon payload for heavyweigh torpedo, sub-launched missile, and mines	Italia
Thyssenkrupp	Germany	Type 214	27	1800	AIP and Diesel	84	250	20	12	8x torpedo tubes, heavyweight torpedo, sub-launched missile, and mines	Turki, Yunani, Korsel, Portugal
Thyssenkrupp	Germany	Type 218	28	2000	AIP and Diesel	?	?	20	10	8x torpedo tubes, heavyweight torpedo, sub-launched missile, and mines	Singapura
Fincantieri	Italy	Built Type 212 and Type 212NFS for Italian Navy	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Italia
STM	Türkiye	STM500	22	500	LiB and Diesel	30	200	18	N/A	4x torpedo tubes, 4 spares for torpedo, heavyweight torpedo, and missile	N/A
Larsen & Toubro	India	SOV400	10	500	Diesel Electric	21	100	10	6	2x heavyweight torpedo externally	N/A
Larsen & Toubro	India	SOV	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Part of Defence Policy and Strategic Division