- Solar storm could impact US hurricane recovery efforts: agency
- Windies sweat on injury to 'crucial' Taylor at World Cup
- Lebanon says 11 dead, 48 injured in Israeli strikes on Beirut
- Panama lashes out at EU over tax haven 'outrage'
- Erdogan says Gaza 'shame of humanity', calls for permanent ceasfire
- TD Bank to pay more than $3 bn to US in money-laundering case
- SAfrica prosecutors drop criminal complaint against president
- 'Good opportunity': Nagelsmann upbeat despite Germany's long injury list
- Hurricane whips up bitter US election battle
- Cameroon bans media talk of president's health amid rumours
- NFL MVP Jackson and rookie phenom Daniels set for showdown
- Chad's capital under threat as floodwaters rise
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit central Beirut
- No answers on strike on reporters in Lebanon one year on: watchdog
- Ramharack picks four wickets as Windies beat Bangladesh in Women's T20 World Cup
- France's City of Light switches to climate-resilient power cables
- Djokovic hails Nadal 'legacy' as Alcaraz in 'shock' over retirement
- Obama hits campaign trail for Harris
- Delta eyes Election Day travel pullback as profits climb
- Djokovic tells Nadal: 'Your legacy will live forever'
- Ethel Kennedy, wife of RFK, dead at 96
- Zelensky denies ceasefire with Russia under discussion on trip
- Florida battered by hurricane, floods but spared 'worst-case scenario'
- After long fight for glory, Nadal leaves with a legacy of memories
- Home hopes Zheng and Wang through to last-eight in Wuhan Open
- UN peacekeepers say Israel fired on Lebanon HQ, injuring 2
- UK's William and Kate in first joint public engagement since cancer treatment
- Alcaraz out as top players pay tribute to Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Racing's Farrell 'not thinking' about British and Irish Lions
- Alcaraz, Sinner pay tribute to 'unbelievable' Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Over 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over Fayed abuse claims
- After K-pop, K-novels? South Korean Nobel win sparks joy, hope at home
- After Nadal exit, Djokovic left to rage against dying of the light
- A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad's club record
- Zelensky touts 'victory plan' against Russia in Macron talks
- Musk finally unveiling his long-promised robotaxi
- UN peacekeepers accuses Israel of firing on Lebanon HQ
- London's Frieze art fair goes potty for ceramics
- Southgate taking year out from coaching
- US, Europe stocks fall on US inflation data
- Zelensky meets Macron in Paris as part of European tour
- Hurricane Milton shreds Florida stadium roof
- UN probe accuses Israel of seeking to 'destroy' Gaza healthcare
- US consumer inflation eases to 2.4% in September
- England in sight of victory after Brook's triple hundred
- Juventus readmitted to ECA after failed Super League revolt
- World number 2 Alcaraz knocked out of Shanghai Masters by Machac
- Leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia meet amid regional tensions
- Klopp's Red Bull decision 'ruined life's work' say Dortmund fans
RBGPF | 4.03% | 63.35 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0% | 6.9 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.15% | 24.557 | $ | |
BCC | -2.88% | 138.41 | $ | |
SCS | -3.7% | 12.565 | $ | |
BTI | -0.97% | 35.14 | $ | |
AZN | -0.99% | 76.745 | $ | |
NGG | 0.14% | 65.72 | $ | |
RIO | 0.53% | 66.705 | $ | |
GSK | -2.85% | 39.125 | $ | |
RELX | -0.77% | 46.355 | $ | |
JRI | -0.1% | 13.207 | $ | |
VOD | -0.31% | 9.7 | $ | |
BCE | -1.71% | 32.75 | $ | |
BP | 0.9% | 32.27 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.27% | 24.746 | $ |
Indonesia buys two submarines from France's Naval Group
Indonesia has ordered two Scorpene-class attack submarines from France's Naval Group as part of a defence cooperation agreement signed with Paris in 2021, the company said Tuesday.
The announcement comes just over two weeks after the Dutch government picked Naval Group for a submarine deal, giving the company another boost three years after Australia abruptly cancelled a major contract.
Amid growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia has signed several deals with French defence companies in recent years.
Under the 2021 agreement with France, Indonesia has also placed an order for 42 Rafale fighter jets worth a total of $8.1 billion.
The diesel-electric Scorpenes, capable of carrying 18 torpedoes and missiles, will be built at the PT PAL shipyard in Indonesia, Naval Group said in a statement.
Under the deal, Naval Group will transfer its technological know-how while "the management, operation and maintenance will be conducted in Indonesia" by Indonesians.
The agreement will create thousands of long-term, highly skilled jobs, Naval Group added.
"Naval Group is very honoured to be part of this new chapter in the strategic alliance between Indonesia and France," said the French firm's chief executive, Pierre Eric Pommellet.
The vessels "will strengthen the country's maritime sovereignty and support the Indonesian Navy in achieving regional superiority at sea," he said.
"In addition to the submarines, our strategic partnership with PT PAL will also support the Indonesian defence industry to actively prepare the future of naval warfare in the country," Pommellet added.
- Mastering submarine technology -
The 72-metre-long (236-foot) Scorpene can dive as deep as 300 metres and remain underwater for more than 12 days, carrying a crew of 31 sailors.
Naval Group has sold six Scorpene submarines to India, four to Brazil, two to Chile and two to Malaysia.
PT PAL's president director, Kaharuddin Djenod, was quoted as saying in the Naval Group statement that the submarine deal showed the "high commitment and trust of the Indonesian government in the capability of local engineers to advancing defence technology".
"In the future, Indonesia is expected to be able to master submarine technology," he added.
France sought to bolster alliances with other partners in the Asia-Pacific region following the Australian submarine deal debacle.
Canberra angered Paris in 2021 when it scrapped a deal to buy 12 Barracuda-class combat submarines from Naval Group in favour of US and British nuclear-powered technology.
Y.Nakamura--AMWN