Indonesia and France accelerate Scorpène submarine construction

Indonesia's state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia, in partnership with France's Naval Group, has officially commenced the physical construction of two Scorpène-class submarines. The project has accelerated, with the steel-cutting phase now set for July 2026, two months earlier than the originally planned September date.

Diana Rosa, Production Director at PT PAL Indonesia, stated that the accelerated timeline was achieved after the company successfully passed its qualification phases. This verification process confirmed that PT PAL's human resources, manufacturing processes, production facilities, and quality control systems meet 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 emphasized that passing the qualification phase demonstrates the effectiveness of the ongoing technology transfer program, significantly boosting Indonesian engineers' ability to master high-precision manufacturing technologies.

As part of this bilateral cooperation, dozens of PT PAL engineers have undergone intensive training at Naval Group's facilities in France. They received training in advanced welding, structural engineering, mechanical and electrical systems, and quality assurance. These newly acquired skills are now being applied by the engineers during the qualification tests under the close supervision of Naval Group specialists. Vincent Vimont, Program Director at Naval Group, affirmed that PT PAL's readiness makes them 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 capability," Vimont stated.

The Scorpène submarine program is a follow-up to a contract signed in 2024 between Indonesia's Ministry of Defense, Naval Group, and PT PAL Indonesia. The contract includes the construction of two Scorpène-class submarines, each weighing between 1,800 and 2,800 tons. Through a comprehensive technology transfer scheme, all construction and assembly processes will be carried out domestically by Indonesian engineers. This project is expected to enable PT PAL to achieve full domestic production capabilities, paving the way for Indonesia to independently build submarines in the future. The program is also projected to create over 2,000 jobs and expand the participation of domestic industries in the defense supply chain.