SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), one of India’s premier defense shipyards, has shown keen interest in participating in PT PAL Indonesia’s upcoming production of Scorpène-class submarines. This interest comes at a time when India is celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations with Indonesia, highlighted by the presence of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in 2025.
MDL’s experience with the Scorpène (Kalvari-class) submarines is pivotal here. India, through a technology transfer agreement with France’s Naval Group, successfully built six of these submarines domestically. This experience has not only bolstered India’s naval capabilities but also provided valuable insights into local production, indigenization, and the integration of foreign technologies into national defense projects.
The Indian defense sector sees this as an opportunity to share its expertise with Indonesia, which is embarking on its own journey to build Scorpène-class submarines. PT PAL, Indonesia’s state-owned shipbuilder, has been chosen by Naval Group for the construction of these submarines, aiming to enhance Indonesia’s naval strength and self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
Participation in PT PAL’s project could be mutually beneficial. For MDL, it represents an avenue to further its international footprint, share technological know-how, and possibly secure contracts for components or subsystems. For Indonesia, it means access to India’s lessons learned in submarine construction, potentially accelerating the learning curve and ensuring a smoother production process.
This collaboration is seen as part of a broader defense partnership between India and Indonesia, which has been strengthening over the years. The visit of President Prabowo Subianto for the Republic Day celebrations underscores the deepening ties, providing a platform for high-level defense dialogues and cooperation agreements. The timing couldn’t be more symbolic, as both nations celebrate their long-standing diplomatic relationship with a focus on future collaborations.
The Scorpène project could serve as a cornerstone for this partnership, allowing both countries to work closely on defense technology, which is increasingly becoming a focal point of international relations in the Indo-Pacific region. India’s push towards ‘Make in India’ and Indonesia’s ‘Made in Indonesia’ initiative share common goals of self-reliance and the development of indigenous defense capabilities, making this collaboration a strategic fit.
Moreover, this venture into submarine production with shared technology could lead to further collaborations in other defense sectors, from naval ships to aerospace, fostering a comprehensive strategic partnership. Both nations have expressed interest in enhancing maritime security cooperation, given the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
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