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ollowing the government'€™s decision to cut Rp 7 trillion (US$490 million) from the defense budget next year, the Navy revealed on Monday a plan to purchase two new submarines to augment its fleet.

Navy spokesperson Comr. Muhammad Zainuddin told The Jakarta Post that the force had opted to procure Kilo-class submarines from Russia as part of the 2015-2019 strategic planning. '€œThere are many kinds of Kilo-class submarines, we have yet to decide which type we will purchase,'€ Zainuddin said.

He declined to provide more information on the financing for the submarine purchase, especially after the cutbacks the government has made to adjust to the current economic slowdown. Zainuddin said the purchase plan was still on the table, awaiting further discussion with the Defense Ministry.

It is reported that the government has proposed cutting the defense budget for next year by 6.3 percent, or Rp 7 trillion, to Rp 95.8 trillion, by rationalizing the ongoing plan to revamp the country'€™s ageing weapons systems.

Despite the savings being relatively small, and defense still accounting for the second-largest slice of the 2016 state budget, lawmakers have conveyed their concern, saying the cutback will hinder the plan to achieve the defense target known as minimum essential force (MEF).

Submarines, with their stealth capacity, are regarded as effective deterrents and Zainuddin said that Indonesia needed at least 12 submarines to protect its territory.

'€œSo far, we have two submarines and an additional three Chang Bogo-class submarines that are still under construction in South Korea. So we still need at least seven more submarines,'€ he said, adding that the seven submarines would probably be Kilo-class vessels.

The Navy currently operates two German-made submarines, the KRI Cakra (401) and KRI Nenggala (402), which were built in the 1980s. The submarines are due to be decommissioned in 2020.

In 2013, Indonesia held talks, under the leadership of then defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, with Russia to procure a number of Kilo-class submarines.

Purnomo held talks with Russian Ambassador MY Galuzin to discuss the procurement of the submarines, but no deal was struck. In January, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu met Galuzin, and Russia offered the Kilo-class 636 to Indonesia.

Ryamizard confirmed the Navy'€™s submarine-procurement plan. '€œIt'€™s better to have five new submarines, instead of 10 second-hand submarines. This is [in line with President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s] instruction to buy new weapons systems,'€ he said.

The Russian Kilo-class 636 submarines are mainly intended for anti-ship and anti-submarine operations in shallow waters. The type is also resilient in various weather conditions. Countries that operate the Kilo class include Algeria, China, India, Romania and Vietnam.

Indonesia has a long history of procuring submarines from Russia and the former Soviet Union. In 1967, it acquired 12 Whiskey-class submarines.

Besides purchasing submarines, the Navy is awaiting the arrival of the Panther helicopters it has ordered from France.

The helicopter is a multi-purpose aircraft capable of combat assault, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue and medical evacuation roles.

'€œWe have ordered a squadron of Panther helicopters, or 11 units. Four units will be arriving in 2016 and the rest in 2017,'€ Zainuddin said, adding that with the helicopters, the Navy would re-create the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) unit which had proven effective in the 1960s.

The new helicopters will be deployed on board the KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, KRI Sigma, KRI Sultan Hasanuddin, KRI Diponegoro and KRI Kaisiepo.
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