French DCNS, Indonesian PT PAL sign cooperation agreement

French shipbuilder DCNS has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesian shipyard PT PAL to increase cooperation in the fields of submarine and surface ship construction.

The MoU confirmation comes following the visit of French president François Hollande to Indonesia.

Indonesia wants to reinforce its naval capacity and is mulling ordering French submarines and surface ships to be built in Indonesia with a high level of local industrial content.

DCNS said the two companies had been cooperating over the past few years to identify the best industrial solution with a multipurpose submarine from the Scorpene-class family now on offer. The submarine would be able to perform both shallow and blue water missions.

Other opportunities on corvettes and frigates are going to be assessed in the near future, it was further said.

“As the European leader in naval combat systems, warship designer and builder, DCNS is committed to establishing long-term partnerships with the Indonesian industry to enhance Indonesia’s local high-tech industrial content,” DCNS CEO Hervé Guillou said after the MoU signing. “Our cooperation with Indonesia’s largest shipyard PT PAL is a perfect illustration of this ambition and we are looking forward to bringing our strong expertise in technology transfers for complex naval programs to provide an industrial project and develop Indonesian Navy operational capability.”

Indonesia currently operates two German Type 209 submarines and has three South Korean Chang Bogo class submarines on order (two were already launched in South Korea).