Feeling proud and moved upon hearing the trial of a submarine made by PT PAL, KRI Alugoro 405, in the waters of Banyuwangi, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had a close look at it.
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ANTARA/BUDY CANDRA SETYA
The Alugoro submarine sails the Bali Strait on Tuesday (21/1/2020), as seen from the coast of Banyuwangi, East Java. The submarine, built by state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL in collaboration with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), successfully completed its dive to a test depth of 250 meters.
The President had a close look on Monday (27/1/2020) at the ship, which was built with technical assistance from Korea. From the historical side, the use of submarines in primary weapon defense systems (Alutsista) by the Navy is not new. At least the Republic of Indonesia had begun operating submarines in the 1960s when Indonesia imported massive weapons systems from (at that time) the Soviet Union and a number of Eastern Bloc countries. At that time no less than 14 submarines were acquired, including from the Whiskey class.
However, the operation period of the submarines was not long. After the change of regime in the mid-1960s, there was a shift in defense equipment from the East to West Bloc. The Republic of Indonesia operated the submarines again when in the 1980s it bought two submarines from Germany, KRI Cakra and KRI Nenggala. In terms of exposure, submarines are less popular than warplanes.
Thankfully, within the Defense Ministry and the Indonesian Military (TNI) enlightenment emerged. As an island nation with a coastline of 81,000 kilometers and a wide exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and waters covering two-thirds of the country\'s territory, the sea power, including submarines, cannot be forgotten.
We learn from the philosophy of the defense of a large state that power must be based on three pillars, namely land, sea and air. In this triad system, sea power with the main elements of the submarines even becomes the main focus, namely when land and air forces are under enemy attack, sea power in the form of submarines is still free to wander in the deep sea and ready to counter attack.
ISTANA KEPRESIDENAN/AGUS SUPARTO
President Joko Widodo (right, in safety vest) climbs the ladder of a bulkhead on Monday (27/1/2020) during a site inspection at the shipyard of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, East Java.
It is believed that submarines are effective as a deterrent. Realizing the importance of submarines in defense, Singapore and Malaysia then followed in Indonesia\'s footsteps. Singapore operates four submarines from Sweden, and Malaysia operates two submarines made in France. Vietnam, as mentioned in The Military Balance (IISS, 2019), operates eight submarines.
Due to its role as a deterrent and its function for water patrols, we still need a number of submarines. This is where we underline the importance of the ability of the domestic defense industry to continue to develop capabilities in submarine manufacturing. In this regard, we appreciate the initiative to include technology transfer in submarine manufacturing. After KRI Alugoro, we hope that the next submarine can be made wholly by the sons of the nation.
The incidents of Chinese coastguards and fishermen entering the ZEE region in Natuna awakens us from sleep in the development of adequate sea (and air) strength. We hope that KRI Cakra, Nenggala, Nagapasa, Ardodedali and Alugoro are not only known in the universe of puppet performance, but also are tangible manifestations of our commitment to become a respected maritime power."
