Jakarta’s state-owned company PT PAL has moved to the pre-production stage of Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarines for the Indonesian Navy.
Jakarta’s state-owned company PT PAL has moved to the pre-production stage of Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarines for the Indonesian Navy.
The development is part of a 2024 initiative to locally produce two modern undersea vessels in support of the country’s maritime defense modernization effort.
PT PAL said the latest phase includes finalizing designs, preparing production systems, developing infrastructure, and training personnel before full-scale construction begins.
Boats under construction are evolved versions of the base Scorpene model designed by French shipbuilder Naval Group, incorporating full lithium-ion batteries instead of the traditional lead-acid setup.
That updated configuration eliminates the outfitting of an air-independent propulsion system while improving endurance, mobility, and underwater performance.
First in Southeast Asia
PT PAL President Director Kaharuddin Djenod said the transition program marks a major step for Indonesia’s defense manufacturing capacity.
“Indonesia is recorded as the first country in ASEAN to build its own submarines,” he said, adding that the effort reflects the nation’s growing ability to handle advanced shipbuilding solutions such as the lithium-ion propulsion technology.
Part of Jakarta's Scorpene effort is a training for PT PAL engineers in Cherbourg, France, with Naval Group, preparing Indonesian teams to build and certify key submarine hull sections domestically.
"By partnering with Naval Group on an ambitious skills transfer program, Indonesia aims to boost the local economy and strengthen the capabilities of its industrial ecosystem,” said Vincent Vimont, director of Indonesian programs at Naval Group.
“The agreement signed with PT PAL, an experienced shipyard, will make this ambition a reality.”
