Delivery contract for Indonesian Navy's future submarines enters into force

French defence shipbuilder the Naval Group has confirmed that the contract for the delivery of two Scorpene-class submarines to be built in, by and for Indonesia entered into force on Wednesday, July 23.

The submarines will belong to what the Naval Group calls the "Scorpene Evolved" class and will be built within PAL Indonesia's facilities through a transfer of technology from the Naval Group.

"Thanks to a transfer of technology, the management, operation and maintenance of the force will be conducted in Indonesia, by Indonesian actors, ensuring both Indonesian sovereignty and the creation of thousands of long-term high skills jobs," the Naval Group said in a press release.

Since the signing of the contract, together with the Ministry of Defence of Indonesia, the Naval Group and PAL consortium has been anticipating its implementation by undertaking design activities, long lead item purchases and planning process activities.

The Naval Group said that, in the coming weeks, PAL welders will be sent to France to undergo specific on-the-job training while around 50 experts from the Naval Group will be based in Indonesia to train more than 400 Indonesian engineers in submarine construction.

The Scorpene Evolved submarines will have reduced acoustic signatures and will be fitted with lithium-ion batteries promising a maximum submerged endurance of 80 days.