Indonesia to build a Chang Bogo Submarine and Uncertainty

Numbers of Attack Submarines in 2009 (orange blocks) and Projected for 2025 (red blocks). Note key Indonesian politicians and admirals project 12 Indonesian submarines by 2025.

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Model of a DSME Chang Bogo (Type 209) Submarine. Indonesia is buying three from South Korea's DSME. One of  the three will be built at PT PAL’s shipyard at Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.

PETE'S COMMENT

The Jakarta Post  has reported that Indonesia's third (Improved) Chang Bogo (Type 209) Class submarine (lets call it "Submarine 3") will not be built in South Korea but at PT PAL’s shipyard at Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. In the Jakarta Post article comments by Indonesia Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro then carry the possibility that Indonesia's other nine (Submarines 4 to 12) might also be Indonesian built. Please connect with Submarine Matters'  Indonesia Revisits Buying Kilos and Indonesia Decides to By Korean Made. and most recently:

South Korean Submarines, 3,000+ ton KSS-III, Nuclear Potential of April 16, 2014 which comments on Chang Bogo's South Korea has built for its own Navy and for Indonesia.

ARTICLES

The Jakarta Post article, February 18, 2014  http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/02/18/pt-pal-gets-more-funds-build-submarine.html reads:

"PT PAL gets more funds to build submarine 

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Tue, February 18 2014, 9:54 AM

The House of Representatives’ Commission I has approved the disbursement of US$250 million this year to state-owned shipyard PT PAL to build the country’s first submarine with technical assistance from South Korea.

Commission I deputy chairman TB Hasanuddin said that the construction would start in April.

Indonesia signed a contract in 2011 with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) to build three submarines worth some $1.07 billion. Two will be built in Korea while the third will be built in PT PAL’s facilities in Surabaya, East Java.

The contract requires that the work starts in Surabaya by November at the latest otherwise the contract will be void and the third one has to be built in Korea.

“We approved the plan and appointed the Finance Ministry to channel the funding to PT PAL through the State-Owned Enterprise Ministry as bridging finance,” Hasanuddin said in a coordination meeting with several ministries, the Navy and the Army on Monday afternoon.

PT PAL needs the additional capital not only to improve its financial position but also to acquire specialized equipment to build submarines. The company has the capability to build surface ships but not submarines. 

Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said the funds would be injected as state capital (PMN) over three years.

He said the government would disburse $180 million this year consisting of $30 million for consultation costs and $150 million for infrastructure. The remaining $70 million is for personnel.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that that the PMN would have value-added benefits for the local defense industry, including the ability to meet the need for 12 submarines by the Navy to ensure adequate defense.

Purnomo added that the South Korean technical assistance had begun in 2013, with the sending of Indonesian engineers to that country to learn the techniques of submarine manufacturing.

“The third one will be constructed by 200 Indonesian engineers and under the supervision of DSME,” he said.

“There will be a transfer of technology in this project.”

Previously, Navy chief of staff Adm. Marsetio said that Indonesia currently had two German-made submarines, KRI Cakra and KRI Nenggala, which were built in the 1980s. They will be decommissioned in 2020. (gda/nvn)"

A further Jakarta Post article, February 20, 2014 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/02/20/local-weapons-ramped.html provides additional information:

"...The work on [Submarine 3] will start in 2015, it is slated for completion in 2018 [probably by 2020, not "2018"]....Despite the order of three submarines from Korea, [Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP)] implementation team head, Adm. (ret) Sumardjono said that Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro had also set a policy to procure Kilo-class submarines from Russia in motion.

“This is a stop-gap measure as we need 12 submarines to safeguard our waters,” he said.”

FURTHER COMMENT

In terms of economies-of-scale its logical that if/when PT PAL and DSME build a Chang Bogo (Submarine 3) in Surabaya that this would be the beginning of a production run of additional Indonesia built Chang Bogos. But Indonesia appears to be encouraging uncertainty through also negotiating with Russia for new or used Kilos. 

In a confusing way Indonesia appears to be seeking better price, credit and commission deals from South Korea (the logical choice for Submarines 4 to 12) and from Russia (perhaps the less likely choice for Submarines 4 to 12). 

Pete

Indonesia revisits buying Kilo submarines.

Several countries operate Kilos - main users being India (pictured), China, Iran and of course Russia.

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This website has looked at many Asia-Pacific submarine forces, including those of:
- Australia - http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/balanced-article-on-aus-future-sub.html
- Singapore - http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/singapore-buying-two-hdw-218sg.html, 
- Vietnam - http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/vietnams-first-kilo-submarine-arrives.html
 Malaysia - http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2009/09/malaysias-first-ever-submarine-scorpene.html

and http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2009/06/indonesia-gets-apology-from-malaysian.html

Indonesia currently has two Type 209 (Type 1300) submarines of the Cakra Class. These are KRI Cakra and KRI Nanggala, both were launched around 1977 and entered Indonesian service in 1981. Both boats have been non-operational for long periods since 1981. Both are recorded as being refurbished in South Korea by early 2012. The refurbishment included strengthening structures and steel sheets, modernization underwater weapons and sonar systems.

Though reportedly refurbished it is unclear whether KRI Cakra or Nanggala are operational. Submarines have a limited service life of usually 30 years or less. This is due to salt water induced corrosion, expansion/contraction causing metal fatigue, other technical problems and obsolescence compared to other submarines. The latter is particularly regarding stealthy characteristics (eg. acoustic noise). So Indonesia has been casting around for replacements for her 36 year old subs.

Indonesia's non-aligned status, experience receiving Russian arms in the 1960s and a low price offer in 2007 from Russia originally suggested Indonesia might acquire Russian Kilo submarine . Presumably Russia would recoup the low selling price by padding out the deep service, upgrade and spare part costs during the Kilo's service lives.

In 2007 Russia agreed at that time to extend a $1.2 Billion line of credit to Indonesia to buy Russian weapons including two Kilos. However this offer lapsed because Russia probably could not afford to extend the credit. The 2008-2009 GFC-subprime crisis and consequent drop in the price of oil (Russia's main export) moved Russia from being a cashed-up oil boom economy in 2007 to being cash-strapped.

A June 23, 2009 article by Richard A. Bitzinger (Air-Independent Powered Submarines in the Asia-Pacific: Proliferation and Repercussions, page 3, at http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Publications/Detail/?ots591=0c54e3b3-1e9c-be1e-2c24-a6a8c7060233&lng=en&id=102465 ) also indicates:

"Indonesia had once considered acquiring several Russian submarines, but this deal fell apart over infrastructure financing ([Indonesia] wanted to use Russian export credits to build a sub[marine] base, which [Russia] refused to fund)."

Note that in late 2011 it was apparent Russia had lost in Indonesia's selection process for three NEW submarines.  Indonesia announced it would buy three South Korean "Improved Chang Bogo Class" variants of the German HDW 209 design. One of the Chang Bogos would be built in Indonesia: see http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/indonesia-to-build-chang-bogo-submarine.html of February 18, 2014 and 

http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/indonesia-decides-to-buy-korean-made.html 

By late 2013 Indonesia was again considering whether to buy Kilos or a proposed-advanced Russian development of the Kilo called the Amur Class. On December 7, 2013 the Jakarta Post reported the following [I've bolded interesting parts]  http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/12/07/ri-looks-russia-submarines-with-multi-role-missile-systems.html :

"RI [Indonesia] looks to Russia for submarines with multi-role missile systems"
Indonesia is in talks with Russia on the purchase of a number of Kilo Class submarines, as the country expands its deterrent capabilities in anticipation of future regional disputes. 

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Friday that a team of officials, led by Navy chief of staff Adm. Marsetio, would head to Russia at the end of this month to initiate a deal and assess the technical capabilities of the arsenal. 

“There is a plan for a massive build-up of our submarine fleet,” Purnomo said in a press conference after an hour-long closed-door meeting with Russian Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN Mikhail Galuzin.

Purnomo said he could not provide more details as the ministry was still awaiting reports filed by Marsetio regarding his planned visit to Russia. “Further to his report, we can then decide whether to buy new submarines or modernize used ones.”

According to Marsetio, Indonesia required “at least one submarine to cover each sea choke point” (a strategic narrow point of passage). 

He said in total, the country needed a minimum of 12 submarines, as laid out in the Defense Ministry’s Minimum Essential Force strategy.

The ministry refused to detail the allocated budget for the submarines. 

Between 2008 and 2013, defense spending has increased by an average 22 percent to Rp 81.5 trillion this year, according to the Finance Ministry. The budget is slated to rise to Rp 83.5 trillion next year. 

The planned submarine purchase will be in addition to the three [Chang Bogo] U-209 submarines currently being built by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and state-owned shipyard PT PAL Indonesia.

The three submarines will be delivered between 2015 and 2016, and will add to the existing two [HDW 209 Class. Jakarta Post wrongly said the were "Kilo Class"] submarines procured in 1978 from the former West Germany.

Purnomo said the ministry’s interest in Russian submarines was based on their advanced cruise-missile system, with which they can accurately target an object at a range of 300 to 400 kilometers. 

Submarines are known to be effective war machines that can act as a deterrent because of their capacity for stealth. The ministry is also considering a number of weaponry options to be fitted on the existing submarines, such as procuring the Klub-S [or "Club S"  "SS-N-27A" with the NATO reporting name of "Sizzler"] missile system, as well as fitting them with the supersonic, anti-ship Yakhont missile [aka P-800 Oniks NATO reporting name "SS-N-26 Strobile" related to Indian-Russian BrahMos] .

Indonesia has a long history of operating submarines from the former Soviet Union, now Russia. In 1967, it acquired 12 Whiskey Class submarines from the Soviet Union. 

The new submarines may well be housed at a newly established naval base in Palu, Central Sulawesi, of which only 2.8 hectares of its total 13 hectares have so far been developed.

Natural protection against extreme ocean currents is also considered to be a necessary requirement for a submarine base.

The Palu Naval Base will in the future not only serve as a forward base but also a main naval base [see more information on Palu Naval Base at http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/southeast-asian-states-buying.html ]..." ENDS

COMMENT 

In any submarine purchase the cost of training and maintaining multiple crews is high. The program cost of maintenance, basing, spares and upgrades, over and above upfront purchase price, must also be considered. Some Indonesians may have visions of an Indonesian Navy operating more than 10 submarines. This may be unrealistic given the problems Indonesia has had fully utilising and maintaining the current two submarines (Cakra Class).

A similar situation exists in Australia. We can only man around three submarines of six available - but our Admirals and Defence Department wish to expand the fleet to a (probably unrealistic) twelve subs.

Indonesia increasing to three submarines from the current two sounds more likely in terms of naval budget and Indonesia's economic growth.

BACKGROUND
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Submarines provide a relatively inexpensive (asymmetric) way to undertake blue water tasks. Their stealth makes up for the raw combat power of more numerous blue water surface ships (which are greater in tonnage and cost). Indonesia's submarines would represent the major means to wage medium intensity (conventional) war at sea - as well as peacetime intelligence gathering/counter-piracy/counter-terrorism.

The Indonesian Navy became a separate service in 1946, after the Indonesian National Revolution (ejecting the Dutch) began. The Navy was initially stocked primarily with craft once operated by European or the Australian navies. Beginning in 1959, the navy began to acquire a large number of craft from the Soviet Union and East European nations.

In the aftermath of the abortive 1965 coup, however, the navy suffered a decline in influence within the armed forces and the nation because of suspected involvement in the coup attempt (particularly by the marine corps) and because of the navy's small size in comparison with the army.

A large portion of its vessels of Soviet or East European origin were quickly rendered non-operational owing to a lack of spare parts and lack of maintenance expertise. Until the late 1970s, the only major replacements were four frigates acquired from the United States Navy in 1974.

Since that time, the navy has embarked on an upgrading program designed to develop a balanced fleet suited to operations in archipelagic waters. The navy's mission was to act as a territorial force responsible for the patrol of Indonesia's immense coastline. The vast majority of operational ships are stationed at the main naval base at Surabaya, East Java. Whereas the 1970s saw an increase in the fleet's ship inventory, the 1980s witnessed a major effort to improve the navy's armament posture through the purchase of the Harpoon weapons system and the MK-46 torpedo. Purchase of Russian missiles would not come with the political restrictions that come with US weapons.

Structurally, the navy comprises the headquarters staff at Jakarta under the overall command of the navy chief of staff, two fleet commands (the Eastern Fleet in Surabaya, the Western Fleet in Jakarta), the marine corps, a small air arm, and a military sealift command.

In the early 1990s, naval warships generally were not deployed to a particular region but were grouped in mobile flotillas, to be dispatched where needed. One mission concerned patrolling the strategic straits through which foreign ships enter and exit the Indian Ocean, particularly the Strait of Malacca. The other mission centered on halting smuggling and illegal fishing, considered to be problems particularly in the areas near the Natuna Islands and in the seas between Kalimantan and Irian Jaya. In support of the second mission, the navy announced plans to construct a number of limited-role bases in isolated areas in the eastern and western sections of the national territory. Patrol activity also increased in connection with the flow of refugees from Southeast Asia, particularly in the area near the Natuna Islands.

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Indonesia's main naval priorities are probably anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, refugee boat interception, and protecting territorial boundaries and undersea oil claims (eg. Ambalat) against neighbours like Malaysia. This suggests low intensity conflict patrol boats of 100 to 500 tons should represent the vast bulk of surface ships.

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This list of Indonesia Navy vessels is useful. 

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The most recent surface ships acquired by the Indonesian Navy appear to be:

- the Bung Tomo class corvettes - built in 2001-2002 and commissioned into the Indonesian Navy in 2014.

- the four Diponegoro class corvettes commissioned between July 2007 and March 2009, modified versions of the Dutch Sigma class.

- the six Ahmad Yani class frigates were originally launched in Dutch service in the 1960s and commissioned in the Indonesian Navy in 1986.

- four Makassar class landing platform dock ships each displacing around 11,000 tons full load and able to take 5 helicopters.

- Dated but also significant was the Indonesian purchase in 1992 of 16 ex East German Parchims anti-submarine corvettes now given the Indonesia classification Kapitan Patimura Class.


Under Indonesia's new President Joko Widodo (appointed October 2014) Indonesia is also commissioning stealth trimaran patrol craft KCR-60/KCR-40 missile attack craft also at - see August 7, 2015 update) and AS565 Panther helicopters with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.

Also see Indonesian Navy Submarine details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_Indonesian_Navy_ships#Submarines

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Pete

Indonesia Considering Nuclear Reactor

Anti-nuclear protest in Indonesia

From The Jakarta Post of February 1, 2008:

"RI [Republic of Indonesia] nuclear plan needs further study: Gus Dur"

"The debate continues on whether Indonesia should risk using nuclear energy, amid the search for urgently-needed alternative renewable and efficient energy sources to ease dependency on costly and depleting fossil fuels.

The government has said it is looking to have its first 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant up and running in 2017, but so far plans have only included the search for a suitable location, research and a feasibility study.

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid said Thursday there were other abundant natural resources which had not yet been maximized. He mentioned alternative energy resources including wind generators, biofuel and geothermal energy.

"We need to conduct more research and preparation, than ever before, if we are intending to build a nuclear power plant. Look at what happened in Chernobyl," he said after a seminar titled Iran's Nuclear Program: What Is It For, Can Indonesia Take A Lesson?.

A reactor exploded at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April 1986, in the former Soviet Union, and was the worst nuclear plant accident in history as explosions and the resulting fire sent a plume of highly radioactive fallout into the atmosphere and over an extensive geographical area.

The government, having gone from being a net oil exporter to a net importer, has chosen nuclear as an alternative to diverse energy sources, expecting sufficient and cheap end-results.

Nuclear energy is regarded by some as environmentally friendly because it emits zero carbon dioxide, but its maintenance is extremely costly and is not recommended for nations planning to use it as a small percentage of their energy supply, or who are rich in other resources.

Locals and activists have protested over the location in the Muria Peninsula in Central Java, designated for the nuclear plant, where earthquakes are frequent.

National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan) chairman Hudi Hastowo said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had deemed the spot safe in terms of its seismic and volcanic activity.
Unlike Iran, Hudi said, Indonesia had no plans as yet to process enriched uranium, but suggested the creation of a collective enrichment center with neighboring countries.
"For instance, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have one together. That way, we wouldn't be suspected like what Iran is facing now," he said.

..."International law depends on who has power ... Indonesia has to make sure it can never be considered as an axis of evil or a country harboring terrorists," University of Indonesia professor Hikmahanto Juwana said. (amr) "
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Background

Indonesia's nuclear program publicly concentrates on plans to build reactors for peaceful purposes. The national legislative organ for nuclear energy, the Nuclear Energy Control Board (BAPETEN) was founded in 1998. Indonesia's national agency for nuclear energy is BATAN.

Decades ago small scale peaceful nuclear research commenced in Indonesia. Plans for an atomic program were mostly shelved in 1997 partially due to the discovery of the Natuna Gas Field, but have been revived since 2005.

Indonesia has stated that the program will be developed in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency. For this reason, Mohammed ElBaradei was invited to visit the country in December 2006.

Protests against plans for nuclear power have occurred in June 2007 near Central Java as well as an upsurge in mid 2007
For research purposes, nuclear reactors have already been built in Indonesia in:
- Yogyakarta, Central Java - the Kartini reactor.
- Serpong , West Java - the MPR RSG-GA Siwabessy reactor, and in
- Bandung, West Java - the Triga Mark II nuclear research reactor.

Various locations have been proposed for building nuclear reactors for generating electricity - such as:

- Muria, Central Java, and.
- Gorontalo, in the north of Sulawesi (Celebes).
Indonesia has at least two uranium mines, Remaja-Hitam and Rirang-Tanah Merah in the west of Kalimantan (Borneo). If these uranium resources appear to be insufficient, the country has the option of importing uranium from friendly nations.
In 2006 Indonesia signed treaties for nuclear cooperation with various countries, including South Korea, Russia, Australia and the United States. Australia has indicated that it does not have problems with supplying Indonesia with uranium for peaceful purposes, and there is an agreement with a Russian company to build a floating nuclear reactor in Gorontalo.
Indonesia has various reasons for wanting to build nuclear reactors:
- Domestic energy consumption in Indonesia is growing rapidly.
- Nuclear energy will reduce dependence on petroleum, a non-renewable resourse. Indonesia, an OPEC member and long-time net oil exporter became a net importer of oil at the beginning of 2005.
- If domestic energy consumption can be provided through nuclear energy, it may be possible to export more oil.

The nuclear plans of Indonesia have met with criticism from Greenpeace and other groups and individuals. In June 2007, nearly 4,000 protesters rallied in Indonesia's Central Java, calling on the Government to abandon plans to build a nuclear power plant on the outskirts of their city. Specific concerns included the dangers posed by nuclear waste, and the location of the country on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with much geological activity, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, that could pose a danger to nuclear reactors.

Comment

Given Indonesia is not a rich country I wonder whether there are additional reasons (such as the weapons option) for considering enormously expensive larger scale reactor construction?

Pete

Further Delays to Indonesian Submarine Purchase Plans

Where have the Indonesian Kilo submarines gone? of August 26, 2009 highlighted significant contraditions in Indonesian statements concerning the purchasing process for two new submarines (to replace its two old HDW 209s) as well as lengthy delays. The following article from Jakarta Globe, October 5, 2009, implies longer delays:

"...[Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno] had expressed his displeasure two months ago when he heard a senior official from the Ministry of Defense tell a journalist that the government had decided to postpone the purchase. Further evidence of that decision surfaced when the submarine purchasing program was conspicuously absent from the 2010 budget approved by the House of Representative last week.

Tedjo told journalists that the Navy would get in line with the government decision to table the purchase of submarines until 2011, which means the vessels would not be received until 2014.
...He said the plan to purchase new subs had been based on current defense threats in the region, citing a low-level underwater arms race with neighboring countries like Malaysia, which has recently received the first of four [wrong - Malaysia has received one and only one more on order] French-made Scorpene subs on order.

Tedjo said due to the delays in the purchasing plans, the country would have to rely more heavily on diplomacy and other “soft power” approaches. “And we are also trying to increase the capacity of our existing fleet, such as plans to use missile launchers on patrol ships we already own,” Tedjo said.

Separately, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said limitations in the defense budget had forced officials to a review all plans to purchase weaponry. “And recent natural disasters have made us switch our plans to purchase transport aircraft, ships and vehicles, rather than purchasing heavy weaponry,”..."
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Comment
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Given that it usually takes 5 years from announced intention to buy (2011) the Indonesian Navy may well see the first of its new submarines (probably from Russia or South Korea) in a Javanese port no earlier than 2016. Still the ability of the Navy to handle the increasing number of Indonesia's identified natural disasters is understandably a higher priority.
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Pete