PT PAL shipyard at Surabaya, Java, Indonesia. PT PAL will assemble Indonesia's third Improved Chang Bogo (Type 209) submarine and hopes to build a fourth (and following) Type 209s.
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Indonesia’s state owned PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia, has for several years planned to build the third of three new Type 209 submarines. The first two were built in DSME's shipyard in South Korea. The 209s are called “Improved Chang Bogo class” in South Korea.
In mid March 2017 news emerged that Indonesia had plans to build a “fourth and following” Type 209 submarines for the Indonesia Navy. Indonesia’s Antara News Agency on March 20-21, 2017, reports:
“...Of the three submarines ordered, one is totally assembled by the Indonesian workers while the fourth and following orders will be done fully by Indonesian workers..."
COMMENT
Indonesian naval analysts have indicated for years that Indonesia really needs 12 submarines to police and defend the 1,000s of islands, straits and narrows of the Indonesian Archipelago. It may be no coincidence that 12 subs is also the number preferred by the Australian Government for the RAN (Australia being the middle power just south of Indonesia).
As well as making the deal for 3 x Type 209s with South Korea Indonesia has for years been in talks with Russia and a shorter time with DCNS to build extra subs to reach the 12 total.
I think Indonesia buying or building additional 209s is much more logical and efficient than owning two completely different submarine classes. Also significant is that Indonesia has owned 2 x 209s, of the Cakra class, for many years, apparently finding them satisfactory.
Pete