REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia will establish a consortium to develop a mini submarine, with a completion target of 2025, an official stated.
"Currently, the consortium is being explored, and it will be established in the near future," Deputy Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) of Industrial Engineering and Design Wahyu W. Pandoe noted here on Tuesday evening.
The consortium will involve the BPPT, state-owned ship builder PAL Indonesia, Indonesian Military, Institute of Technology Surabaya, the Bandung Institute of Technology, and PT Risea, among others, to develop the underwater defense industry and build Indonesia's self-reliance.
The mini submarine, with a capacity of 11 crew members, is planned to be built with dimensions of 32 meters x 3 meters that can dive to a depth of 150 meters for two to three days.
"This is just an initial goal. The next goal is to develop a large submarine U209. Indonesia should master underwater technology to support its maritime axis program," he remarked.
To develop the submarine, BPPT has begun exploring cooperation with Saab, a Swedish defense industry company that provides underwater defense technology.
Meanwhile, Head of Program and Budget for Defense and Security Industry of BPPT Fadilah Hasim remarked that Indonesia has immense potential to master underwater technology.
Hasim pointed out that the BPPT has a variety of laboratories that support the transfer of technology.
"There are a few of countries that have developed submarine technology. It is quite difficult to carry out transfer of technology from member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, Sweden can transfer its technology, as it is not a member of NATO," Hasim stated.
Meanwhile, Technology Manager of Swedish Saab Kockums Roger Berg pointed out that the company had designed and built naval vessels for 300 years.
The company had developed submarines for a century.
"Saab is developing a modern submarine A26," Berg remarked.
The latest submarine technology developed by Sweden has the ability to stay in the deep sea for long periods of time, cope with the pressure, and detect threats, Berg said.
"We use environment-friendly energy," Berg added.
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