Indonesia Cuts First Steel for Its First Locally Built Scorpène Evolved Submarine

Indonesia marked the formal start of construction on its first Scorpène Evolved-class submarine on 7 August 2026, with a first-steel-cutting ceremony at state shipbuilder PT PAL’s yard in Surabaya, East Java. The milestone caps months of preparatory work under a technology-transfer partnership with France’s Naval Group.

At a Glance

First-steel ceremony held 7 August 2026 at PT PAL’s Surabaya shipyard.
Delivery of the first boat to the Indonesian Navy is planned for 2032.
Construction of a second submarine is expected to begin in 2027, with delivery targeted for 2033.
The technology-transfer (ToT) agreement with Naval Group covers hull outfitting, mechanical/machinery installation, electrical-systems integration and weapons-system assembly.
Senior officials from the Indonesian Navy, PT PAL, Naval Group and local supplier companies attended the ceremony.

Background

The Scorpène Evolved is Naval Group’s updated diesel-electric attack submarine, offering an upgraded sensor suite, improved acoustic discretion and modular weapons integration over the original Scorpène design. Indonesia’s choice reflects a broader push to strengthen undersea deterrence across its vast archipelagic waters. The program is structured around a phased technology transfer intended to give PT PAL an independent submarine construction, maintenance and modernization capability over time — a template several Southeast Asian navies are now pursuing as regional undersea investment accelerates.

Regional Impact

Indonesia joins Malaysia and Singapore among Southeast Asian operators building submarine capability, and its move toward domestic construction adds a new dimension to the region’s underwater technology competition. For observers of allied defense-industrial strategy, the phased Naval Group–PT PAL transfer offers a comparable case study to programs elsewhere that pair foreign design expertise with a path to sovereign production, including Turkish efforts such as the Reis-class submarine program and STM’s indigenous submarine design work.

FAQ

When will the submarine be delivered? The first boat is scheduled for delivery in 2032.

How many boats are planned? Construction of a second submarine is set to start in 2027; the program’s final planned fleet size has not been officially disclosed.

What does the technology transfer include? Hull outfitting, mechanical and machinery installation, electrical-systems integration, and weapons-system assembly will be carried out in Indonesia.

Sources

Naval News, “PT PAL Cuts First Steel for Indonesia’s Scorpène Evolved Submarine”
The Jakarta Post, “Surabaya hosts first steel cutting for Scorpène Evolved submarine”
Naval Today, “Steel cut for Indonesia’s first Scorpène submarine”