Indonesia receives updated Scorpene submarine offer with Lithium Ion batteries, more range

 

Artist i.pression of the Scorpene submarine with the F21 heavyweight torpedoes. Photo c/o Naval Group through Naval News.

French shipbuilder Naval Group has updated its submarine proposal to Indonesia using the Scorpene submarine design.

Dubbed the “Scorpene Evolved”, the latest variant of the proven submarine design utilises Lithium Ion battery technology, allowing it to have greater underwater endurance compared to earlier variants of the Scorpene submarine designs.

According to a report by Naval News, the Scorpene Evolved’s lithium-ion battery configuration allows the submarine a total endurance of 80 days of which 78 days are submerged), an operational range of more than 8,000 nautical miles. These can be achieved while also maintaining the submarine’s top speed longer, and with lower indiscretion rate compared to using Lead Acid batteries. 

Naval Group also explained that using full lithium ion battery configuration has advantages over lithium ion + AIP configuration in terms of weight and space, increased cruising range and mission duration.

The use of Lithium Ion batteries also allow for lower costs and ease of maintenance compared to using AIP technology which requires the construction of supporting offshore facilities to resupply the system.  And compared to lead acid batteries, lithium ion batteries require less maintenance and provide up to 40% longer service life.

Since Naval Group has previously proposed to assist Indonesia in establishing an Energy Research Laboratory focused on developing future submarine energy technologies, the use of Lihium Ion battery technology will be among the technologies that could be included that would allow Indonesia to produce lithium ion battery technology for future submarines and other related military and commercial applications.

Aside from the lithium ion batteries, Naval Group has offered the Scorpene Evolved with their own F21 heavyweight torpedo, as well as the MBDA SM39 Exocet submarine-launched anti-ship missile.

[1] Naval News