Page 14 - ADT APRIL 2022 Online Magazine

Defence Science and Technology Agency, German defence con-
tractor Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) worked together on
the design and building of the submarine. Minister for Defence, Dr
Ng Eng Hen, at the Launch of the First Type 218SG Submarine said,
“Our Type 218SG submarines have 50 per cent longer endurance
than our current class of submarines, and can spend more time
on-station lying in wait. With a greater weapons-carrying capac- [ COVER STORY ]
ity and the ability to employ various types of payloads, they also
possess more firepower and are far more flexible than our current
class of submarines.” “The four boats – Invincible, Impeccable,
Illustrious, Inimitable – signify our highest aspirations, for the RSN
and for Singapore, to strive to be exceptional, regardless of chal-
lenging circumstances,” he added. Dr Ng also announced that
Impeccable, Illustrious and Inimitable are “under construction, and
will be delivered from 2022.”

Indonesia
Indonesia aims to expand its submarine fleet by as much a triple its
current line up to 12 vessels, though it lost one of its subs this year,
killing its entire crew of 53. Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has
indicated that the country will step up investment in military equip-
In addition to crew training in Germany, the ment in the wake of the sub accident. As for submarines, Indonesia
RSN is also developing a Submarine Trainer is pursuing a joint production agreement with South Korea, while
Suite (STS) to cater to the training needs for France, Russia and Turkey have offered to export the vessels. Japan
crew of the Type 218SG submarines. The STS is exploring the idea of selling submarines to Jakarta.
is currently in the design review phase and will In April this year the country’s KRI Nanggala-402 submarine was
comprise a Command Team Trainer, Steering lost at sea while preparing for torpedo exercises off Bali. The craft
and Diving Trainer, Virtual Procedural Trainer was built in 1977 in Germany and acquired by Indonesia in 1981.
and Maintenance Trainer. These Trainer sys- The nation's military says the sub was likely hit by a giant undersea
tems will enable the RSN to train and qualify wave that knocked it out of control. In the recent years, Indonesia’s
submariners in realistic, simulated operations development of its submarine capabilities was in the spotlight
at sea. The newly launched Invincible-class again with the trial of its first indigenously-assembled submarine.
submarines will join the Republic of Singapore The Indonesian Navy conducted sea trials for its Nagapasa-class
Navy (RSN)'s surface fleet to protect Singapore diesel-electric submarine known as Alugoro, the third of initial three
and secure access to her sea lines of communi- submarines ordered previously from South Korea. The Nagapasa-
cation. These new submarines are customised class submarine underwent the Nominal Diving Depth (NDD)
for Singapore’s operating environment, particu- stage in the North Waters of Bali Island, according to Indonesian
larly the shallow and busy waters in the region. state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL. The NDD is part of the Alugoro
Named Invincible, Impeccable, Illustrious and submarine 53 steps-long Sea Acceptance Test (SAT) program. The
Inimitable, the new submarines will form the NDD stage was declared successful, as the Alugoro submarine
strategic edge of Singapore's defence. succeeded in diving to a depth of 250 meters. The Alugoro (405)
was launched on April 12, 2019 by Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL.
The Invincible-class submarines incorporate The Nagapasa-class submarine was assembled in Indonesia under
design innovation and advanced maintenance a transfer of technology agreement with South Korean shipbuilder
and engineering concepts to optimise train- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).
ing, operation and maintenance costs. Factors
such as ergonomics optimised for Asian bodies According to Satriyo Bintoro, PT PAL Head of the Submarine
and systems for tropical operations, such as Division, the NDD stage is very important because “after the NDD
air-conditioning systems, were considered in stage was successfully implemented it can be concluded that 90
the design of the submarines. The RSN, the per cent of the submarine construction process has been suc-
cessful”. After the Alugoro submarine completes various testing
processes such as the Harbor Acceptance Test (HAT) and SAT, it is
planned to be handed over to the country’s Ministry of Defense for
use by the Indonesian Navy in December 2020. The Alugoro is the
third of the Nagapasa-class submarine (also known as the DSME
1400 design or Improved Chang Bogo-class) for the Indonesian
Navy. The DSME 1400 project is an upgrade of the built-under-li-
cense Type 209/1200 with increased length (up to 61.2 m) and
displacement (about 1,400 tons underwater).

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