Indonesia Begins Construction of Two Scorpène Submarines
Indonesia has entered the physical construction phase for two Scorpène submarine units, following the commencement of the first steel cutting process by PT PAL Indonesia and the French defence company, Naval Group, scheduled for July 2026.
This stage has begun earlier than the original target, which was slated for September this year.
PT PAL Indonesia’s Production Director, Diana Rosa, stated in a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday that the acceleration of physical construction follows the successful completion of the qualification section. This stage involved a verification process to ensure the readiness of human resources, manufacturing processes, production facilities, and quality control systems in accordance with world-class submarine construction standards.
“This programme is a long-term investment to enhance the competence of Indonesian engineers, strengthen the national industry, and build a high-tech manufacturing ecosystem capable of competing globally,” said Diana.
According to her, the successful completion of this stage demonstrates that the technology transfer process has been effective, enhancing the ability of Indonesian engineers to master high-precision manufacturing technology.
As part of this process, PT PAL has dispatched dozens of engineers to Naval Group’s facilities in France to undergo intensive training in various fields, ranging from welding and construction engineering to mechanical systems, electrical systems, and quality control.
These competencies were subsequently applied directly during the execution of the qualification section, which was verified by the Naval Group team.
Meanwhile, Naval Group Programme Director Vincent Vimont stated that the success of the qualification section stage demonstrates PT PAL’s readiness as a strategic partner in the construction of modern submarines.
“This collaboration is not merely about building two submarine units, but about building a foundation for sustainable industrial capability,” said Vincent.
The Republic of Indonesia’s Scorpène Submarine Programme is a follow-up to the contract signed in 2024 between the Ministry of Defence, Naval Group, and PT PAL Indonesia to construct two submarine units weighing between 1,800 and 2,800 tonnes.
The entire construction process will be carried out in Indonesia by Indonesian engineers through a comprehensive technology transfer scheme.
The programme is expected not only to strengthen the mastery of national strategic technology but also to increase defence industry capacity, human resource competence, and encourage the formation of a high-tech manufacturing ecosystem within the country.
Through this project, PT PAL aims to increase its capabilities to achieve whole local production, meaning the complete construction of submarines domestically with the support of technology mastery from Naval Group.
In addition to strengthening defence industry capabilities, the construction of the two Scorpène submarines is projected to provide a broad economic impact by absorbing more than 2,000 workers and involving various domestic industries as part of the national supply chain.