Ever since Indonesia decided to buy 3 Improved Chang Bogo Type 209 variants from South Korea’s DSME (on December 20, 2011) decisions by many Indonesians involved have been a puzzle. The Indonesians sensibly decided to have 2 of the Type 209/1400 variants built in South Korea. The first submarine KRI Nagapasa was commissioned on August 2, 2017. The next 209, KRI Ardadedali, is expected to be commissioned in 2018.
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However, in February 2014, the Indonesia Parliament made the curious decision to have the third submarine, KRI Alugoro, assembled from South Korean parts, at the PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia. By itself this would add up to a production run of only 1 submarine in Indonesia. A delay may also ensue as often it takes 5 years to build/assemble a submarine in a foreign customer's shipyard. So
So the deal with South Korea for 3 Type 209 variants has been made. But factions within the Indonesian bureaucracy, Navy and politicians have been talking about prospects for buying an unsettled number of:
- Russian Kilo, Amur or Kalina submarines
- likely South Korean designed minisubs, and
- talking to some extent to France.
In February 2014 the Jakarta Postreported:
“Despite the order of three submarines from Korea, KKIP implementation team head, Adm. (ret) Sumardjono said that Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro had also set a policy to procure Kilo-class submarines from Russia in motion. This is a stop-gap measure as we need 12 submarines to safeguard our waters,' he said.'”
The prospect of Indonesia fielding 2 or even 3 distinctly different classes of submarine may defy military efficiency or official purchasing sense. Although it may make sense to India, which has 3 foreign designed classes of SSKs built/building and may eventually buy a fourth SSK type, under Project-75i.
There may be what can be delicately described as a "financial commissions for many" reason for buyers to make extra deals or have extra talks with several submarine suppliers.
Other interpretations are:
- perhaps Indonesia wishes to match the 12 submarines to be built by Indonesia’s southern
neighbour, Australia. But this still does not explain 2 or 3 types for Indonesia, or
- perhaps Indonesia wants to spread its geo-political alliance net, via submarine purchases, as widely
as possible. In that sense buying from Russia, France or, less likely, China, may make sense.
- perhaps Indonesia wishes to match the 12 submarines to be built by Indonesia’s southern
neighbour, Australia. But this still does not explain 2 or 3 types for Indonesia, or
- perhaps Indonesia wants to spread its geo-political alliance net, via submarine purchases, as widely
as possible. In that sense buying from Russia, France or, less likely, China, may make sense.
The launch ceremony for KRI Nagapasa on March 24, 2016. It was attended by Indonesia's Minister of Defense (former General) Ryamizard Ryacudu and Indonesia's Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Ade Supandi (Photo of launch ceremony coutesy Indonesia's portal-komando website). On August 2, 2017 KRI Nagapasa was commissioned.
Pete