The French Naval Group presented in Jakarta the Scorpene Evolved, an evolution of its export champion submarine, now equipped with Lithium-ion batteries for increased performance and reduced maintenance. To win the contract for two ships, with a fleet of six submarines in perspective, the French industrialist is integrating significant technology transfers for Indonesian industry, both military and civil.
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If public attention and headlines give pride of place to the successes of Rafale on the international scene, it is far from being the only equipment produced by the French Defense Technological Industrial Base, to impose itself in global competitions.
The Scorpene submarine, designed and manufactured by Naval Group, is one of the star equipment of French defense exports. With 14 examples already ordered by 4 international Navy, 2 for Chile, 2 for Malaysia, 4 for Brazil and 6 for India, and 3 additional examples which must be ordered again by New Delhi in the coming months, it is the most exported submarine model in French history.
In addition, Naval Group is today in several advanced negotiations with other world navies for new submarines of this type. So, Romania would be close to ordering two Scorpene In the coming months. Naval Group is also in advanced discussions with the Philippines, even if in this area, the French industrialist must face very aggressive offers from Spain and South Korea.
An MoU signed in February 2022 with Indonesia with Naval Group for two Scorpene submarines
Exclusive negotiations have also been underway for several years with Jakarta. So, in february 2022, Naval Group and the Indonesian authorities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the local design and construction of two Scorpene submarines, based on a model with significant technology transfers comparable to those successfully implemented in Brazil and India.
In Indonesia, French negotiators can rely on the trust built around the order for 42 planes Rafale, to modernize the country's air forces.
In addition, the Indonesian Navy, which initially turned towards South Korea with the 3 Nagapasa class submarines entering service between 2017 and 2021, has been more than reserved regarding performance and reliability. ships built, incriminating a blatant lack of technological support from Seoul in this contract.
Finally, the growing tensions between Jakarta and Beijing, particularly in the South China Sea, as well as the American CAATSA legislation, have led Indonesia to rapidly move closer to the Western bloc in recent years, while also moving away from the Russia than its non-aligned posture inherited from Soekarno during the Cold War.
The Scorpene Evolved equipped with lithium-ion batteries
Despite these advantages, discussions between Naval group and the Indonesian authorities appeared to have made no progress in recent months. However, each month that passes increases the chances of seeing an aggressive competing offer emerge, as is the case today in the Philippines.
It is in this context that the French industrialist has just drawn up a most attractive and competitive offer, probably to establish itself definitively in this matter.
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