Indonesia turns to Scorpene submarines to assert its maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.

On July 23, 2025, the contract between Naval Group and Indonesia officially entered into force for the local construction of two Scorpène Evolved attack submarines. This agreement marks a new phase in the strategic partnership between Paris and Jakarta, focused on strengthening Indonesia’s domestic naval defense industry. The entire program will be carried out at PT PAL’s shipyard in Surabaya, under a broad technology transfer scheme led by the Naval Group–PT PAL consortium.
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Through the Scorpene Evolved program, Indonesia seeks to address short-term operational needs while laying the groundwork for an autonomous and durable naval industry capable of developing and producing advanced systems over the long term (Picture source: Indian Navy)

The diesel-electric submarines, equipped with lithium-ion batteries, will be fully designed, assembled, and commissioned within Indonesian territory. This development represents a shift in Jakarta’s strategic ambitions to establish a comprehensive national capability in submarine construction and lifecycle management. In the long term, the operation, maintenance, and support of these platforms will be handled by Indonesian personnel, thereby reinforcing national operational control and creating thousands of skilled jobs.

Since the agreement was signed in April 2024, preparatory activities have progressed without interruption, including design work, early procurement of critical components, and industrial planning. In the coming weeks, PT PAL welders will undergo specialized technical training in France, while more than fifty Naval Group experts will relocate temporarily to Indonesia to train approximately 400 Indonesian engineers in submarine construction.

Naval Group Chairman and CEO Pierre Éric Pommellet described the contract's implementation as a key step in the strategic alliance between France and Indonesia. He emphasized the consortium’s support for Indonesia’s goal of developing a modern, resilient, and sovereign naval industry. PT PAL President Dr. Kaharuddin Djenod welcomed the government's decision to fully fund local production through state capital (PMN), interpreting it as a sign of institutional confidence in the country’s submarine technology capabilities.

The project is part of a broader cooperation framework. On June 12, several Memorandums of Understanding were signed between Naval Group and Indonesian defense industry stakeholders, along with a separate agreement with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to initiate joint research and development programs in naval defense technologies. The partnership was further solidified with the creation, on July 1, 2025, of the subsidiary PT Naval Group Nusantara, a local entity tasked with coordinating the group’s industrial and technological activities in Indonesia.

This program is being launched in a rapidly evolving regional environment. During the Indo Defense 2025 exhibition, China offered to supply Indonesia with three Type 039A Yuan-class submarines, currently in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy. The offer falls under the Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) program, aimed at bridging capability gaps while awaiting the delivery of the Scorpène Evolved units.

Indonesia’s current submarine fleet primarily consists of four Nagapasa-class submarines, built with South Korean support, which are now showing signs of aging and face modernization challenges. Through the Scorpène Evolved program, Indonesia seeks to address short-term operational needs while laying the groundwork for an autonomous and durable naval industry capable of developing and producing advanced systems over the long term. This dual objective reflects a clear intent to consolidate technological capability and national control over maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.