RI MAY PURCHASE KILO OR CHANGBOGO CLASS SUBMARINES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has yet to decide the prospective supplier country for its plan to purchase two submarines to reinforce its navy in 2011 or 2012.

        So far, Indonesia has four optional prospective countries from which it expects to purchase the strategic military equipment, namely Germany (U-209), South Korea (Changbogo), Russia (Kilo class) and France (Scorpen).

        But an ANTARA source said Indonesia had reduced the number of optional countries to two, namely Russia and South Korea.

        "The optional countries have now been reduced to only two, namely Russia and South Korea. But while the plan is still in progress we have not yet decided any exporter countries, whether Russia or South Korea", Director General for Defense Facility Affairs at the Defense Ministry, Rear Marshal Eris Heryanto, said on Monday.

        If South Korea becomes the last option for the importation of the submarines, it means that the Indonesia navy will have two Changbogo class submarines. It is likely that this type will be the SS-209 Changbogo class submarines.

        The 209 submarine class is designed to destroy hostile submarines, surface ships, protect friendly naval bases, sea shores communications, and carry out reconnaissance missions.

        Type 1200 as a member of the Class 209 ensures reliable early detection of hostile warships, including low-noise submarines, owing to a high effective sonar system and low noise feature of the submarines.

        The Changbogo class submarines are diesel/electric propulsion submarines, built under license in South Korea, based on German Type 209-1200.

        The other option supplier is Russia. In September 2007, it was announced that Indonesia had placed an order for two Kilo Type 636 submarines, plus options to purchase up to eight more. But due to budget constraints, the Indonesian defense ministry will purchase only two submarines in 2011 or in 2012.

        The Russian Kilo Class submarines first entered service in the early 1980s. They were first designed by the Rubin Central Maritime Design Bureau, St Petersburg.

        Subsequent developments have led to the current production versions, the Type 877EKM and the Type 636. A successor, the Lada (Project 677) was launched in November 2004.

        Director General for Defense Facilities Eris Heryanto said the defense ministry was still processing the plan to purchase the two submarines for the navy. The Indonesian government had previously called a tender for the purchase of the two submarines through 2004-2009 export credit facilities.

        Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said that as a user his side had asked that the two new submarines that would be imported should have the same battle capability as that of submarines owned by other countries.

        "So, we hope that the two submarines that would be imported would have deterrent capability for our country. Submarines are not a mere means of war but also a strategic equipment that could strengthen Indonesia's bargaining position against other countries," he said.

        According to military observer of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, it is urgent for the government to procure submarines soon considering its geographic conditions and its regional defense strength a present.

        "The high deterrent effect is expected to reduce threat potentials. So, the government should not delay its purchase," he said.

        Besides for defense, the procurement of the two submarines worth US$7 million is also important to strengthen Indonesia's bargaining position.

        "We need submarines not only to win battles but also to boost our bargaining position toward other countries because submarines as a strategic means of war have great deterrent potentials ," Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said.

        Purdijatno said the submarines Indonesia needed in the future should at least have the same combat effectiveness and specifications as those owned by other countries. "In that way, our bargaining position will be equal to those of other countries. People will no longer underestimate us," he said.

        At present, the Indonesian navy had two German-made submarines but they were of very old vintage, he said, adding one of them some time ago underwent an overhaul, and the other now would follow suit soon.

        The navy had yet to determine the specifications of the two yet-to-be-purchased submarines but it was clear that they must have capabilities on a par with or, if possible exceeding, those of submarines owned by neighboring countries, he said.

        It was hoped the additional submarines would enable the navy to guard Indonesia's vast maritime territory in a more effective way, the navy chief said.

        Virtually, the government has earlier planed to import the two submarines in 2010, it postponed it later due to budget constraint. Previously Indonesia has put out to tender the plan procurement of two submarines in 2010.

        "Although the government will increase the fund allocation by 20 percent in the 2010 state budget, the increase is not yet enough to purchase main weapon system such as submarines and new jet-fighters. The increase in the budget will be prioritized on maintenance services," Director General for Defense Facilities of the Defense Ministry Rear Marshal Eris Herryanto said.***4*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/A/O001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 08-09-2009 10:48:15