Sagem (Safran) beat out an international field to win the contract from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd (DSME) of South Korea as prime contractor for the navigation system to be installed on three 1,400-tonne oceangoing submarines to be deployed by the Indonesian Navy.

Ordered by Indonesia in 2012, this new class of ocean-going submarine is the first South Korean-designed submarine to be sold in international markets.

The Sagem navigation system (NAVS) offers outstanding reliability and precision, making it the best system for demanding submarine missions, whether at sea or for operations along coastlines. NAVS comprises two high-performance Sigma 40XP laser gyro inertial reference units, a computer and safety-critical navigation software, all contributing to the submarine’s stealth and safety during dives.

The decisive factors in DSME’s choice were Sagem’s proven capabilities as systems integrator, plus its expertise in data fusion and transmission to the ship’s combat system, along with extensive experience in managing major defence programmes.