JAKARTA. Nov 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Indonesian Navy Commander Bernard Kent Sondakh voiced the intention to buy a number of submarines from Russia after visiting the Russian section of the INDO DEFENSE-2004 EXPO & FORUM in Jakarta.
He did not specify which submarines Indonesia is interested in.
The Rosoboronexport state-owned arms trader and the St. Petersburg-based Malakhit design bureau came out with the unprecedented Pirania T and Pirania 2 diesel small-size submarines at the Jakarta exhibition.
"The subs are designed to conduct reconnaissance and ranger operations, deliver combat swimmers and support them. Piranias can also be utilized in special operations against surface ships in coastal or remote areas. They carry an arsenal of mines and torpedoes, and rangers/swimmers equipped with all necessary assets to fulfil missions assigned," Yury Mineyev, Malakhit chief designer, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
He added that Piranias were initially developed as short-range subs that suit best the operating conditions of South East Asia with lots of islands and straits. According to him, a whole family of ranger and torpedo submarines were derived from the Pirania. The Pirania 2 showed at the exhibition differs from the baseline configuration with an electrochemical power generating plant that ensures its longer operation submerged. The Pirania T is a torpedo-carrying version with four types of weapons aboard, including 533-mm torpedoes, widely exported; 400-mm torpedoes mounted externally; a variety of mines, also attached externally, and the Igla portable SAM system to repel air attacks when on surface.
He added that in addition to the crew of three, the sub can carry six swimmers aboard. No Piranias have been exported, but there is a steady interest in the subs in all countries in South East Asia, and primarily Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia.
The Pirania is the smallest existing submarine in terms of displacement. Its hull is made of rust-protected non-magnetic materials. The sub's primary specs are as follows: length 28.2 m, width 4.8 m, height from keel to access door 6.3 m, draught 2.5 m, displacement 218 tonnes. The sub is made of titanium alloys, which allows it to submerge to 200 m. It can cover 1,000 miles at snorkel depth, or 240 miles using the electric motor. Its max surface speed is five knots, and 6.65 knots when submerged. The endurance is nine days. When submerged, it is accessed from an airlock chamber. There are two containers for Sirena transporters in the upper hull, as well as individual towing devices for plunging and other equipment.