RI, France begin building two Scorpne submarines ahead of schedule

Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia, in collaboration with French defense company Naval Group, has officially begun the physical construction of two Scorpène-class submarines.

The project entered the steel-cutting phase in July 2026, two months ahead of the original September schedule.

PT PAL Indonesia Production Director Diana Rosa said in a press release on Thursday (July 2) that the early start was made possible after the company successfully completed the qualification phase.

The verification process confirmed that PT PAL's human resources, manufacturing processes, production facilities, and quality control systems comply with international standards for submarine construction.

"This program is a long-term investment to enhance the competence of Indonesian engineers, strengthen the national defense industry, and develop a high-tech manufacturing ecosystem capable of competing globally," Diana said.

She noted that passing the qualification phase demonstrates the effectiveness of the ongoing technology transfer program, significantly enhancing the capabilities of Indonesian engineers in mastering high-precision manufacturing technologies.

As part of the bilateral cooperation, PT PAL sent dozens of engineers to Naval Group's facilities in France for intensive training in advanced welding, structural engineering, mechanical and electrical systems, and quality assurance.

The engineers subsequently applied their newly acquired expertise during the qualification trials under the direct supervision of Naval Group specialists.

Naval Group Program Director Vincent Vimont said the successful evaluation confirms PT PAL's readiness to serve as a strategic partner in modern naval defense manufacturing.

"This collaboration is not just about building two submarines, but about laying the foundation for sustainable industrial capabilities," Vimont said.

The Scorpène program stems from a contract signed in 2024 between Indonesia's Ministry of Defense, Naval Group, and PT PAL Indonesia for the construction of two Scorpène-class submarines with a displacement of between 1,800 and 2,800 tons.

Under a comprehensive technology transfer arrangement, the entire construction and assembly process will be carried out domestically by Indonesian engineers.

The project is expected to enable PT PAL to achieve full local production capability, paving the way for Indonesia to independently build complete submarines in the future.

Beyond strengthening the country's defense industrial base, the Scorpène program is also projected to generate significant economic benefits by creating more than 2,000 jobs and expanding the participation of domestic industries in Indonesia's defense supply chain.

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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Yashinta Difa

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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