Indonesia plans to have 10 attack submarines by 2029

 

Some of the Indonesian Navy's submarines. Photo c/o ABC News.

The Indonesia Navy (TNI-AL) has set a target to have at least 10 diesel-electric attack submarines by 2029.

According to Indonesian parliament member Dave Laksono, senior military officials presented their plan with members of the parliament, with the plan to have 10 submarines.

Currently, the TNI-AL has 4 submarines in the fleet, after the loss of one of its submarine, KRI Nanggala (402) last April 2021.

Military and defense officials also discussed about the sinking of KRI Nanggala, as well as reporting on the current condition of military equipment of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

No confirmation was made on where the submarines would be acquired, or if the additional submarines to acquired are brand new or used. 

But the target would also depend on the capability of the country to finance the acquisition, as the COVID-19 pandemic has wrecked the government's budget and funding capacity.

The TNI-AL currently has 3 Nagapasa-class submarines built by South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), and 1 Cakra-class submarine in service since 1981 and built in Germany. Both classes were based on Germany's Type 209 submarine design.

Previous reports indicated that the Indonesian Ministry of Defence has been in discussion with French and German submarine builders, while also having previous discussion with the Russian and South Korean governments regarding submarine acquisition plans.

France was said to have offered an enlarged variant of the Scorpene-class design from French naval shipbuilder Naval Group.

Germany was said to have offered the Type 214 design from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.




[1] Anadolu Agency
[2] Nuclear Threat Initiative