Jakarta Fast-Tracks Scorpene Submarine Delivery After Presidential Directive to Cut Timeline by 3 Years

Indonesia’s ambitious plan to domestically construct two cutting-edge Scorpene Evolved Full Lithium-Ion Battery (LiB) submarines has taken a dramatic turn following a presidential directive to expedite the delivery timeline by nearly three years, signaling Jakarta’s strategic urgency to bolster its undersea warfare capabilities in an increasingly contested maritime region.

The original 96-month schedule—equivalent to eight years—for the construction of two Scorpene-class submarines at PT PAL’s shipyard in Surabaya is now being compressed into a significantly tighter window, as ordered by President Prabowo Subianto.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Wiranto, the Project Director for the Scorpene program at state-owned PT PAL, disclosed in an exclusive interview with Kompas that the acceleration directive came from the top leadership earlier this year.

“This is very interesting. A few months ago, the President requested the team, namely the team from PT PAL and our partner from Naval Group, to expedite this project by three years,” he said.

The mandate to accelerate construction timelines has effectively redrawn the project’s operational roadmap and injected a sense of urgency into what was already Indonesia’s most technologically complex naval undertaking to date.

“This request has suddenly become a significant challenge that must be addressed together,” Wiranto emphasized, underscoring the strategic importance of meeting the revised deadline.

He noted that both PT PAL and France’s Naval Group—Indonesia’s principal partner in this landmark technology transfer initiative—are currently recalibrating workflows, redesigning production schedules, and implementing rapid innovation strategies to accommodate the compressed timeline.

The acceleration comes amid intensifying regional naval modernization efforts, particularly in the South China Sea and the Western Pacific, where maritime assertiveness and undersea surveillance capabilities have become critical determinants of national security posture.

The bilateral contract for the construction of the Scorpene submarines was officially signed on March 28, 2024, between Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence and France’s Naval Group, in a deal estimated to be worth over USD 1.4 billion (RM6.6 billion).

Both submarines will be constructed at PT PAL’s facilities in Surabaya with direct oversight and collaborative input from Naval Group under a high-stakes industrial partnership aimed at enhancing Indonesia’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.

In technical terms, the submarines will be the Scorpene Evolved Full Lithium-Ion Battery (LiB) variant, making Indonesia among the first nations outside Europe to adopt this next-generation propulsion system.

Naval Group, in a press statement, hailed the selection of the Scorpene Evolved LiB as a decisive step for Jakarta, calling it a “high-performance and proven platform” that will significantly enhance the operational reach and stealth profile of the Indonesian Navy in contested maritime theatres.

Designed for modern multi-domain warfare, the Scorpene-class submarines boast modular design features allowing them to operate in both littoral zones and deep-sea environments.

With increasing incidents of submarine activity in the Indo-Pacific—including frequent transits by PLAN and USN submarines—the induction of Scorpene-class boats will elevate Indonesia’s ability to conduct persistent undersea surveillance and deterrence patrols.

The Scorpene Evolved LiB variant offers a range of strategic advantages, including reduced acoustic signature, longer endurance, and improved safety, thanks to its lithium-ion battery propulsion—a leap ahead of conventional lead-acid or Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems.

Each submarine will displace between 1,600 to 2,000 tons, measure 72 meters in length, and be capable of diving to depths exceeding 300 meters, while cruising submerged at speeds up to 20 knots.

Endurance is another standout feature: the lithium-ion battery system allows the submarines to remain submerged for up to 12 consecutive days, enabling protracted covert operations without surfacing.

Each submarine is manned by a compact yet efficient crew of 31 personnel, thanks to high automation levels that also serve to reduce life-cycle operational costs.

For combat capability, the submarines are equipped with six 533mm torpedo tubes, capable of launching up to 18 heavyweight torpedoes or guided missiles, supporting both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare roles.

Central to their battlefield dominance is the SUBTICS® integrated combat system, developed by Naval Group to enhance real-time threat detection, tracking, and fire-control in both littoral and blue-water operations.

SUBTICS enables simultaneous management of sonar, periscope imagery, electronic support measures (ESM), and weapon firing solutions under a single unified interface, streamlining command decisions in high-stress environments.

Rear Admiral Wiranto further confirmed that the project will initially commence with a Domestic Component Level (TKDN) of 30 percent, a figure that reflects both the project’s technical complexity and its long-term industrial ambition.

“This figure serves as the initial benchmark in a long marathon towards full independence, which is the primary objective of the entire technology transfer project,” he said.

The strategic vision does not stop at mere platform acquisition; Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence has explicitly tied the program to its broader vision of defence industrial autonomy by 2045, aligning with the nation’s centennial independence goals.

“If I’m not mistaken, by 2045, our target is to be able to export submarines,” Wiranto added.

If achieved, this would place Indonesia among the handful of nations capable of designing, manufacturing, and exporting modern diesel-electric submarines, placing it alongside established submarine-building powers such as South Korea, Turkey, and France.

For Naval Group, the Indonesian contract further cements its global footprint, following recent successes in Brazil, India, and Malaysia, where similar technology transfer arrangements have enabled long-term defence partnerships.

As tensions persist in the South China Sea—exacerbated by overlapping maritime claims, grey-zone operations, and military posturing by global and regional powers—the rapid induction of modern, stealth-capable submarines will serve as a key pillar of Jakarta’s maritime deterrence strategy.

In addition to geopolitical calculations, the acceleration of the Scorpene program sends a strong signal to domestic stakeholders about the government’s commitment to high-tech defence industrialisation and maritime sovereignty.

Indonesia’s expanding defence budget—expected to grow by double digits annually—also aligns with President Prabowo’s emphasis on achieving “strategic autonomy” in defence production while reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.

With the accelerated submarine construction project now underway, the coming months will be critical for PT PAL and Naval Group to demonstrate execution excellence under tight timelines and geopolitical scrutiny.

If successful, the fast-tracked delivery of Scorpene submarines will not only enhance Indonesia’s naval warfighting capabilities but also serve as a litmus test for future high-end defence co-productions under Jakarta’s defence masterplan.