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Indonesia's KSM-32 Submarine Design

Fri 07 May 2021
By H I Sutton

Indonesian Navy's KSM 32 Midget

Submarine
  The KSM-32 (Kapal Selam Mini) is an indigenous midget submarine design from
Indonesia. It has been developed by the BPPT (Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi /
Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology) as a stepping stone towards full-
scale submarine construction. Design concepts began in 2016, then actual design from 2017
to 2019.
Why Midget Submarines?
Although Indonesia operates four Type-209 family conventional submarines, its navy is
comparatively small when compared to its areas of operations. The country has an incredible
54,720 km of coastline and over 13,000 islands. And unlike the situation facing many other
navies, Indonesian waters may be well suited to midget submarines.

Indonesia sits astride major sea lines of communication (SLOC) connecting the Indian Ocean
with the South China Sea and Pacific. This makes it a likely area of operations for foreign
warships in any regional conflict, even one not involving Indonesia. At the same time the
waters are shallow in places and have complex currents and water conditions which could
hamper foreign anti-submarine operations. And, relative to many other areas on the globe, the
waters are unmapped by foreign powers (although Chinese UUVs have been found on several
occasions).

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There are numerous choke points, not least the Straits of Malacca, Lombok, Sunda, Makassar
and Alas Strait. Midget submarines could be used to monitor and, lay mines or sensors and, if
called upon, ambush ships passing through these areas. They could also be used for special
forces missions, deploying Indonesia's elite Kopaska combat swimmer unit. These have
their own range of Swimmer Delivery Vehivles (SDVs).

At the same time midget submarines represent a natural first step for a country building its
indigenous submarine building capabilities. Indonesia is already locally producing the South
Korean Type-209/1400 Chang Bogo-class, known locally as the Nagapasa-class. Midget
submarines would be quicker, cheaper and lower risk than entering into a full-sized
indigenous program.
Hydrodynamic testing model

The Yono / Ghadir comparison

Perhaps surprisingly for a country building submarines with South Korean assistance, the
internal details of the KSM 32 bears a strong resemblance to the North Korean MS-29 Yono
Class. This is also built by Iran as the IS-120 Ghadir Class, and the older Yugo class is
operated by Vietnam and for a time, South Korea (captured example).

The Iranian Ghadir class may look different on the outdside, but under the steel shell is a
very similar boat.

This video on YouTube has excellent 3d models of the design. Both submarines follow the
same general plan.
The KSM is larger than the Yono, being 3 meters (10 feet) longer and, more significantly,
0.5m (1.6 ft) larger diameter.

CLICK to enlarge.

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Earlier Kapal Selam Mini
Previously in 2016-17 Indonesian engineers were showcasing 22 meters midget submarines.
This design came in two variations.

The first, KSM-22, was designed by BPPT together with the ministry of Defense Balitbang
and University of Indonesia. Like the latest model it had X-form rudders and sail mounted
hydroplanes. Differences included the absence of torpedo tubes and a lock-out chamber in the
forward section, exiting through the deck (also similar to some North Korean subs).

KSM-22. Note the pop-our outboard thruster, a feature seen on the Yono/Ghadir family.

The other 22m design was developed by the Indonesian Navy Research and Development
Agency (Dislitbangal) and PT Palindo Marine. This had an overall similar hull layout but
differed in a cruciform tail arrangement and large dive planes well forward near the bow
instead of the sail. This is described as having 4 torpedoes although I am unsure whether they
would be carried internally. It also possibly had a contra-rotating screw, at least in some
iterations.
Dislitbangal 22m

Available Data Dislitbangal 22m KSM 22 KSM 29 KSM 32

Length (m) 22 22 29 32
Hull diameter (m) 3 3 3 3.5
Submerged displacement (tons) 133 127.1 151
Underwater cruising speed (kt) 8 8 7
Underwater maxium speed (kt) 14 10 15
Operating depth (m) 140 100-150 60 150
Crew + PAX 11 5+9 8+4
Submerged endurance (days) 3 3
Torpedoes (533mm) 4 0 2 2

Outlook
It seems unlikely that the KSM-32 will be built, although there are likely those hoping that it
will. Indonesia had already identified a need for more submarines, even before the tragic loss
of KRI Nanggala (402) last month. But it is likely to opt for full size submarines. Local
production seems very likely, but whether Indonesia will take the risk on an indiginous
design remains to be seen.