Naval Group bags contract for two Scorpene Evolved submarines

An Indian Navy Scorpene submarine. Indonesia has signed a contract for two Scorpene Evolved boats, which will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries. (Naval Group)

Naval Group has secured the contract for two lithium-ion batteries-equipped Scorpene Evolved diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) with the Indonesian government.

The contract was secured in collaboration with Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL, Naval Group disclosed in a statement on 2 April.

Under the contract that was inked on 28 March, the two SSKs will be fully built in Indonesia at PT PAL's facilities in Surabaya.

Each vessel will have an overall length of 72 m and displace between 1,600 and 2,000 tonnes. It will accommodate a crew of 31 and take up to 18 weapons.

The submarine will have maximum submerged speeds in excess of 20 kt and can attain a maximum diving depth of 300 m. It will be equipped with six torpedo tubes.

As reported by Janes in March, Naval Group has partnered with the French government's Directorate General of the Treasury to fully fund the programme via three sources of loans.

These include a credit facility with France's Banque publique d'investissement and a direct loan from the Directorate General of the Treasury, which would fund up to 85% of Naval Group's portion of the contract.

A third source of loans would be arranged with a private commercial lender that is yet to be determined. This tranche will fund the remaining 15% of Naval Group's portion of the contract and up to 100% of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL's portion of the contract.

Work on the first boat is scheduled to begin 14 months after the contract becomes effective, and once funding sources and an initial payment are secured.