14 July 2021

Jakarta approves plan to obtain USD600 million loan for interim submarine programme

by Ridzwan Rahmat

KRI Nagapasa , one of four submarines in service with the Indonesian Navy. The country has approved a plan to obtain up to USD600 million in foreign loans to procure at least one second-hand boat as a stopgap measure while awaiting new submarines. (Juni Kriswanto/AFP via Getty Images)

The Indonesian Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval for the country to obtain up to USD600 million in foreign loans to procure at least one second-hand submarine for the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL).

Documents provided to Janes by industry sources indicate that the approval was granted for the Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) programme, which seeks to temporarily fill gaps in the TNI-AL's underwater warfare capabilities with boats retired by other navies while the service awaits the delivery of new vessels.

The programme calls for a submarine class that displaces between 1,800–2,800 tonnes. However, the documents seen by Janes did not specify the expected number of hulls that will be procured.

The approved loan quantum for the IRSC was reached in consultation with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Kementerian Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional: BAPPENAS).

The TNI-AL operates a fleet of four diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) comprised of three Nagapasa (DSME 209/1400)-class boats, and one Cakra (Type 209/1300)-class SSK, KRI Cakra (401). A second Cakra-class boat, KRI Nanggala (402), sank in the Bali Sea in April 2021 killing everyone onboard.

The Indonesian Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval for the country to obtain up to USD600...

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