Page 12 - ADT APRIL 2022 Online Magazine

Undersea [ COVER STORY ]

Rivalry

NAVIES IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION ARE Southeast Asian territory. Navies in Asia-Pacific
INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON BUYING DIESEL region have started expanding over the past
few years and are increasingly focused on the
ELECTRIC-POWERED ATTACK SUBMARINES acquisition of diesel electric-powered attack
submarines. The diesel-electric Kilo is consid-
Jay Menon ered one of the quietest submarines and has
been constantly refined since the 1980s. The
acquisition of submarines represents a sudden
Australia’s plans to pursue nuclear-powered submarines and the proliferation of a new capability throughout the
launch of AUKUS — a new security grouping between Australia, region. Given the strategic advantages that a
the United Kingdom, and the United States, have increased the submarine force offers, countries in the region
rivalry of major powers in Southeast Asia. Under the arrangement, continue to seek to expand or modernise their
Australia will build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines using submarine capabilities.
US expertise, while dumping a contract with France for diesel-elec-
tric subs. Malaysia
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), which cur-
New Deal rently has two Scorpène-class submarines,
The deal comes amid increasing tensions in the East and South plans to procure another vessel in the 14th
China Seas, conduits for trillions of dollars of shipments amount- Malaysia Plan (2031 – 2035) and one more
ing to about a third of global trade. Countries in the region, mainly in the 15th Malaysia Plan (2036 – 2040) as
Malaysia and Indonesia have shared strong reservations over part of its "15 to 5" Transformation Plan. The
Australia's decision to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered subma- two Malaysian Scorpène-class vessels have
rines, arguing it will lead to an arms race. Even Singapore, Australia’s been modified to enhance their ability to oper-
most reliable ally in the region, has expressed concern. The nuclear ate in the warmer and more saline waters of
subs will allow Australia to conduct longer patrols and give the Southeast Asia through a process called “trop-
alliance a stronger military presence in the region. icalisation.”

“This situation will certainly not benefit anyone,” Indonesian Foreign The second RMN Scorpene-class submarine
Minister Retno Marsudi said after meeting with her Malaysian KD Tun Abul Razak returned to service in April
counterpart, Saifuddin Abdullah, in Jakarta in October. “We both 2020 following completion of major repair and
agreed that efforts to maintain a peaceful and stable region must overhaul work that started in June 2017. The
continue and don’t want the current dynamics to cause tension RMN released a video on April 16 showing sea
in the arms race and also in power projection.” Saifuddin said trials of the submarine in the Malaysian waters.
having a near-neighbor build new nuclear-powered submarines In August last, the RMN carried out a rare
could encourage other countries to come more frequently into demonstration of its anti-surface capabilities

12 | April 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT