Jakarta – The Indonesian Navy is planning to purchase five modern submarines from Germany, Navy chief of staff, Admiral Arief Kushariadi, said after inaugurating a telecommunication post here Tuesday.

Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology BJ Habibie and the German Defense Ministry's Secretary General Gunnar Simon signed a memorandum of understanding on the purchase of the submarines here Monday.

The used submarines belong to the 206 class and are 48.6 m long, 4.6 m wide and 4.5 m tall.

Kushariadi however did not mention the price of the submarines which were used by the German Navy to guard Germany's water territory.

The Indonesian Navy is familiar with German-made military equipment, notably conventional submarines.

Kushariadi will visit Germany on Sept 23 to inspect the submarines.

Indonesia bought two new submarines from Germany in 1982.