Indonesia begins constructing Scorpene submarine for Navy

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3 hours ago

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) – State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia has begun constructing a Scorpene-class submarine for the Indonesian Navy, with the project scheduled for completion within eight years.

“Thank God everything went smoothly. The construction of this submarine is expected to take 96 months, or about eight years,” Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali said during the first steel-cutting ceremony in Surabaya, East Java on Friday.

He noted that the overall progress of the Scorpene submarine project has reached approximately 20.5 percent.

“We hope this submarine can be completed on schedule so that the delivery will be right as planned,” he said.

Ali highlighted that the construction of this latest-generation Scorpene-class submarine involves Indonesia’s finest local talent, operating with support and guidance from the French naval defense company Naval Group.

“The Scorpene we are building is more advanced than previous variants built in other countries. This is the latest, newest version,” he said.

The admiral said the submarine measures nearly 72 meters in length and is designed to dive deeper and remain submerged longer than earlier variants. It will be equipped with torpedoes and guided missiles.

He added that the Navy has established a task force to operate the submarine. These personnel are gradually being sent to France for joint training with the French Navy and Naval Group.

Ali emphasized that building the Scorpene domestically marks a crucial step in strengthening the self-reliance of Indonesia’s defense industry.

“This is a significant achievement. It is the first time we are building a submarine from scratch here in Indonesia. Among ASEAN countries, we might be the first to build a submarine domestically,” Ali noted.

Meanwhile, PT PAL Indonesia President Director Kaharuddin Djenod said the first steel-cutting ceremony demonstrates that the consortium partnership between PT PAL and Naval Group is progressing as planned.

He added that the collaboration goes beyond the construction of primary weapon systems and serves as an important platform for technology transfer between Indonesia and France.