Indo Defence 2025: China offers ex-PLAN Type 039 boats for Indonesia's interim submarine requirement

Indonesia is mulling an offer for ex-PLAN boats to temporarily fulfil gaps that have arisen due to the non-availability of submarines such as the Cakra (Type 209/1300) boat seen here. (TNI-AL)

China has offered to supply the Indonesian Navy with ex-People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan (Type 039A)-class submarines.

The offer was made by officials from China's Poly Technologies Inc during a visit to the Indonesian Navy at Wisma Elang Laut in Central Jakarta on 26 May, ahead of the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition held in Jakarta from 11 to 14 June.

Poly Technologies is a Chinese state-owned company that is authorised to carry out the import and export of defence systems within China.

Sources close to the matter told Janes at the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition that under the offer proposed by Poly Technologies, China will supply three Yuan-class submarines to fulfil long-standing requirements under Indonesia's Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) programme.

It seeks to temporarily fill gaps in the Indonesian Navy's underwater warfare capabilities with second-hand boats while the service awaits the delivery of new vessels and calls for a submarine class that displaces between 1,800 and 2,800 tonnes.

Indonesia signed a contract for two lithium-ion battery-equipped Scorpene Evolved diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) with French shipbuilder Naval Group in 2024. However, the contract has yet to be activated.

Even if the contract is activated this year, the first vessel would only arrive in 2030.

In pursuit of the IRSC programme, Indonesia's Ministry of Finance had approved plans for the country to obtain up to USD600 million in foreign loans to procure at least one second-hand boat.