Page 15 - ADT APRIL 2022 Online Magazine

The first submarine for Indonesia, Nagapasa (403), was launched subsequently announced that CSIC of China
by the DSME shipyard in Okpo on December 3, 2013. The sub- had been contracted for the supply of the first
marine arrived in Indonesia on August 28, 2017. The second boat of a projected three S26T submarines.
Ardadedali (404) was launched at the DSME facility in Okpo in 2014,
launched on October 24, 2016 and transferred to the navy on April The RTN had inked a contract with the China
25, 2018, arriving in Indonesia in June 2018. In 2019, the Indonesian Shipbuilding and Offshore International
Navy announced it would purchase three more Improved Type Corporation (CSOC) for one S26T diesel-elec- [ COVER STORY ]
209s from DSME for US$1.02 billion, and that they would enter tric submarine, with the contract being worth
service by 2026. 13.5 billion baht (US$430 million) and the boat
set to be delivered by 2023, and orders for
PT PAL and DSME will also collaborate on the second three-unit another two expected by end of 2022, with
contract, according to an announcement last year from South payments to China set to continue until 2027.
Korea’s state arms procurement agency DAPA, but it is unclear The keel-laying ceremony was held in China for
where exactly the next batch of three submarines will be built. The the first submarine in September 2019.
latest contract, once completed, will bring the number of subma- However, after a brief hold on the order
rines operated by the Indonesian Navy to eight. The world’s largest following the pandemic, the RTN submitted a
archipelagic state already operates two smaller Type 209 subma- proposal recently to the parliamentary budget
rines, Type 209/1300 KRI Cakra and KRI Nanggala, which were built committee in respect to the fiscal budget for
over 30 years ago. DSME is contracted for work on the upgrades of the 2022 year. If approved, it would be the
Cakra-class submarines which will include a modernized periscope final approval needed to buy the submarines.
mast, hull works and new combat management systems (CMS). The Royal Thai Navy spokesperson, Admiral
Analysts say the Indonesian Navy may aim for a total of 14 subma- Chettha Jaipiam, said buying these submarines
rines by procuring six more advanced submarines—potentially Type is the “duty “of the Royal Thai Navy in order to
214 export submarines with air independent propulsion Indonesia protect the country.
once operated one of the more capable submarine forces in Asia,
with 12 Whiskey-class submarines purchased from the Soviet Union The RTN will notably have to renegotiate a
back in the 1960s and 1970s. purchase timeline for the remaining two S26T
submarines included in its US$1.1 billion deal
The Philippines with China back in 2017. At the time, the two
The acquisition and development of a submarine arm for the coun- governments agreed that payments on the
try remain one of the priorities of the Philippine Navy (PN). Since trio of submarines could occur in a total of 17
2013, the Philippine Navy has sought to replace its obsolete assets installments over an 11-year period. The S26T
with newer platforms as part of a military modernisation program is an advanced version of the PLA Navy’s Yuan
initiated by former president Benigno Aquino and continued by the submarine, and will reportedly feature AIP. In
current administration under President Rodrigo Duterte. According parallel with this project, the RTN is pursuing
to highly placed PN sources, Manila has earmarked PHP70 billion the construction of a class of midget subma-
(USD1.47 billion) for the acquisition of two submarines along with rines, reportedly to displace 150-300 tonnes,
an integrated logistics support package. and to be named the Chalawan class. BMT of
the UK have been contracted to oversee the
The PN is looking to acquire two diesel-electric submarine units project.
as part of its efforts to modernize its fleet. The Scorpene, which is
being constructed by French defence manufacturer Naval Group Vietnam
is said to be high on the list of preferred submarine platforms of Vietnam operates six Russian-made Kilo
the country and was evaluated by naval and defence officials last Project 636 submarines based at Cam Ranh
year. Russia is promoting its Kilo class. President Duterte also had Bay. Prior to 2014, the Vietnam People’s Navy
recently confirmed that two submarines will be ordered for the (VPN) operated no submarines. The vessels
Philippine Navy, a service which has never previously operated were constructed at the Admiralty Shipyard,
such craft. The PN has already formed a Submarine Group and St. Petersburg. These reportedly very quiet
the officers and enlisted personnel of the PN's Submarine Group submarines have a submerged displacement
have been going abroad for training on how to operate and man a of 4,000 tonnes. Maximum speed is 24 knots,
submersible vessel. range is 7,500 nautical miles.

Thailand Armament of the VPN Kilos consists of 533mm
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) says they are going ahead with plans to torpedoes, fired from six tubes, as well as
buy more submarines from China. The RTN was an early regional 3M14E Klub-S land attack missiles. According
operator of submarines, but its flotilla of Japanese-built subs was to some reports, VPN Kilo subs are regularly
decommissioned, without replacement, in the 1950s. The RTN, deployed to monitor the movements in the
though is now returning to the submarine scene. The RTN estab- South China Sea of Hainan Island-based PLA
lished a submarine crew training facility in 2014, and Bangkok Navy nuclear powered submarines.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY April 2022 | 15