Strengthening the Submarine Fleet

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

The KRI Nanggala-402 submarine docked at the Madura Pier of the Indonesian Eastern Fleet Command in Surabaya, Monday (6/2/2012) after repairs in South Korea.

Unlike some other countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has a visionary plan for developing primary marine weaponry systems.

We already operated 12 Whiskey-class submarines made in the Soviet Union in the early 1960s. Submarines strengthened the Indonesian naval fleet at the time, whose posture was solid like the Air Force. The regime change brought to a halt the imports of primary weaponry systems (alutsista) from the Eastern Block, including submarines, one of which is the Pasopati, which is now a tourist attraction in Surabaya, East Java.

During the New Order era, the submarine tradition continued, but only manifested itself in two ships, namely the Cakra and the Nanggala. KRI Nanggala 402 reportedly lost contact on Wednesday (21/4/2021) when it was about to conduct a torpedo firing test north of Bali Island. The submarine produced by the German factory HDW in 1979 was given the symbol Type 209/1300 and was widely exported. This type is used by a number of countries that operate small submarine fleets, such as Argentina, Brazil, South Korea and Indonesia. Germany upgraded the 209 to 212 in 2003.

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^ Rescue Efforts Intensify for Missing 53-Crewed Nanggala

^ Valuable Lessons on Used Weapons Systems

In the course of time, KRI Nanggala has undergone overhaul work at South Korea\'s DSME shipyard, which gave it a variety of new capabilities, from radar and sonar to weapons control.

Indonesia realizes that submarines are increasingly important and has ordered more from South Korea, which has much more experience. As a result of the procurement, which includes technology transfer, Indonesia has three more submarines. Now, Indonesia is no longer the only submarine operator in Southeast Asia. Malaysia operates the French-made Scorpene-type submarine. Singapore operates the Sjoormen and Vastergotland submarines from Sweden.

KOMPAS/ANGGER PUTRANTO

KRI Hiu 634 sailed across the Bali Strait to Tanjung Wangi Harbor, Banyuwangi, Thursday (22/4/2021). A number of KRIs were deployed to evacuate the KRI Nanggala 402 which was missing since Wednesday (21/4/2021).

Submarines are increasingly recognized for their deterrent effect, because opponents find it difficult to predict where an attack will come from. Nevertheless, it must also be admitted that antisubmarine defense equipment is increasingly sophisticated. Submarines are no longer completely immune to detection by antisubmarine systems.

In developing countries, submarines are still armed with torpedoes and antiship missiles, such as the Exocet. The main function of this primary underwater defense system is for the patrol of sovereignty enforcement, in contrast to the guided missile submarines operated by major powers, where submarines are a pillar of the triad system of nuclear weapons, in addition to ground-based missiles and missiles for bombers.

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^ Alutsista Reform is Prioritized

^ Archipelagic State Defense

For Indonesia as an archipelagic country, submarines have become a necessity to secure the waters and enforce the country\'s sovereignty.

As of Thursday (22/4) evening, a search was ongoing to find KRI Nanggala. We still hope that the 53 crew members and personnel on this ship are found safe. We appreciate the helping hand in the search from neighboring countries, such as Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.