Indonesia buys rescue submarine from UK
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Indonesian Government is working with PT BTI Indo Tekno to purchase a submarine rescue vehicle system (SRVS) manufactured by British company Submarine Manufacturing & Products (SMP) to strengthen the Indonesian Navy’s fleet.
Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumatha informed that the value of the purchase contract is US$100 million, or equivalent to Rp1.5 trillion.
“The purchase includes one rescue submarine (SRV-F Mk.3), one mothership unit, and other equipment (decompression chamber, launch and recovery system, air transportability equipment, and remotely operated vehicle),” he told reporters on Thursday.
The SRVS can rescue and evacuate sunken submarines, he informed. The purchase contract for the system was signed by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and PT BTI Indo Tekno on September 1, 2023.
As a follow-up, Indonesian defense player PT BTI Indo Tekno signed a cooperation agreement to fulfill the SRVS procurement contract, together with SMP Ltd and Houlder Ltd, on board British type-23 frigate warship HMS Iron Duke on the sidelines of the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Expo in London on September 12, Sumatha disclosed.
The signing of the cooperation document was witnessed by director general of defense potential at the Defense Ministry, Major General Muhammad Fadjar; British trade envoy to Indonesia and ASEAN, Richard Graham; chief of the Defense Industrial Policy Committee (KKIP), Lieutenant General (retd.) Yoedhi Swastanto; and Head of Aerospace and Defence at UK Export Finance Pat Cauthery.
According to Sumatha, the SRV-F Mk.3 is one of the most advanced systems in the world and will be built in England.
“By adhering to the ‘One Out, All Out’ principle, the SRV-F Mk.3 is able to rescue up to 50 submarine crew at once, enabling the total evacuation of all crew from Nagapasa and Type 214 class submarines in a single rescue operation,” he said.
Furthermore, SRV-F Mk.3 uses a hybrid design that allows it to be transported by aircraft, he added.
The hybrid design also allows the system to work more flexibly and more responsively compared to conventional evacuation systems, Sumatha said.
Meanwhile, the Mothership (MOSHIP), which is part of the SRVS, is equipped with high-tech supporting equipment, including a transfer under pressure (TUP) room and an onboard decompression room. The two rooms allow evacuation officers to immediately provide medical assistance and treatment to rescued submarine crew, he informed.
“The signing of the SRVS procurement contract shows the government’s seriousness to support the modernization of defense equipment in the Indonesian Navy,” he stated.
With the signing of the SRVS contract, Indonesia will become the most advanced SRVS operator in the region, boosting the capabilities and combat readiness of the Indonesian submarine fleet, and guaranteeing the safety of the crew who operate them, Sumatha noted.
