Indonesian Navy must prepare specialised crew for Scorpene submarines
A former Assistant for Planning and Defence to the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (Asrena KSAL), retired Vice Admiral Iwan Isnurwanto, has said the Navy must prepare prospective specialised crew members for the Scorpene submarine currently under construction at PT PAL Indonesia.
This is necessary because the Scorpene is a submarine with characteristics and technology that differ from the four other submarines owned by Indonesia.
“The capabilities required of Scorpene crew members are different from those of the Navy’s other submarines, namely the Nagapasa Class and Cakra Class. One reason is the lithium-ion battery technology in the Scorpene submarine, so the necessary skills must be prepared,” said former Asrena KSAL Iwan Isnurwanto when met in South Jakarta on Sunday.
The use of lithium-ion battery technology will give the Scorpene submarine advantages over other submarines.
One of these is a considerably longer underwater endurance of 7–10 days, with an energy capacity three times greater than that of the Nagapasa Class and Cakra Class.
In addition, the use of this type of battery allows the submarine to recharge in a shorter time, namely two to three hours.
The power delivered by this battery can also enable the submarine to move at a constant speed even when the battery strength is down to 20 percent.
Iwan explained that these advantages come from engines and batteries that have never been present in submarines owned by the Indonesian Navy.
He therefore stressed the importance of educating prospective crew members for the Scorpene so that the submarine can be operated to its full potential.
“This means prospective crew members must be drawn from personnel serving on the Nagapasa Class or Cakra Class submarines, so that they can be sent to school to learn to operate the Scorpene Class,” he said.
The man who once served as commander of the submarine KRI Cakra-401 and as a core crew member of KRI Nanggala-402 explained that the prospective crew members must study various technical aspects of submarine operations as well as emergency handling procedures.
In addition to technical training, the crew must also undergo practical training in order to gain a deeper understanding of submarine operating techniques.
“Because it is being built at PT PAL, where will the training take place? The on-site training will be here, at PT PAL, or in France as the home country of the company that produces the Scorpene,” said Iwan.
He expressed hope that the Navy will carry out thorough preparations in the field of human resources in order to maximise the operation of the Scorpene submarine in safeguarding Indonesia’s seas.
“For the Scorpene, we have already prepared the task force, but we have not yet issued the order. The personnel have already been prepared,” said Ali when met at the Hartono Marine Corps Barracks in Cilandak, South Jakarta, on Thursday (24/7).
In addition to preparing personnel to crew the Scorpene, Ali said his side is also preparing various needs required by PT PAL as the party that will take part in assembling the Scorpene.
One of these is the appointment of a project head from the Indonesian Navy assigned to PT PAL to build the Scorpene.
“PT PAL has also been developed by us. Later, the facility for moving submarines from land to sea and from sea to land is being prepared,” said Ali.
Ali explained that the submarine is being assembled by PT PAL and Naval Group (France) in Surabaya. The construction process will also take quite a long time, namely eight years.
He therefore expressed hope that all preparations made by PT PAL have been maximised in order to smooth the Scorpene construction process.