Posted on 11/03/2013 11:40:37 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Saudi Arabia 'plans to buy German submarines'
A German newspaper has reported that Saudi Arabia plans to buy submarines from Germany. The news could intensify discussion on weapons exports during the current coalition negotiations in Berlin.
The German weekly Bild am Sonntag said on Sunday that Saudi Arabia wanted to purchase five German Type 209 submarines for 12 billion euros ($16.5 billion). The paper said that in the long term, the kingdom was interested in buying altogether 25 of the vessels.
The newspaper said it had information that the German chancellery had in the summer already signaled a willingness to examine such requests from Saudi Arabia "favorably" as soon as a new government was in place.
The submarines would be constructed by the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) and the Nordseewerke Emden, both shipbuilding companies located in the north of Germany, according to the report.
Disputed issue
The report could fuel controversy during coalition negotiations between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats, as weapons exports to crisis regions are a disputed issue between the parties.
The Social Democrats would like to see stricter regulations, while the conservatives consider thepresent rules on exports to be adequate. Currently, the Federal Security Council, made up of the chancellor and eight ministers, has to approve any arms export.
Some lawmakers in Germany see Saudi Arabia as an inappropriate recipient for arms, saying that human rights are not sufficiently respected in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia also sent tanks and troops to help put down recent protests in Bahrain in 2011
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.de ...
“So these are different from the 40 known “suitcase” nukes we know are out there, and which ere basically demolition nukes and more “man-portable” than suitcases. The upside is that all of them required a very rigid maintenance regime, and many of them would probably be dead without extensive and competent refurbishing by now.”
I don’t know about the 40. I’m going on General Lebed’s statement. But as far as maintenance, I don’t think so. Nuclear weapons are pretty much maintenance free. You’re probably thinking about the battery issue with older MANPADS or shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles. The Soviet type went dead after a year or so and required refurbishment. The American type required battery replacement.
We tried to buy back the ones Reagan gave to Afghanistan’s fighters. They were 1 million apiece. But most had failed. Men carried them as they were penis symbols. No word on all the ones Hillary Clinton sent to Libya over the CIA’s objections because she wanted to unseat Kaddafi on the cheap.
Me too friend, me too.
These are devices that Ion Hobana knew about being stolen. The maintenance pertained to timer/detonator issues.
“The maintenance pertained to timer/detonator issues.”
You can pull the timer out of anything and replace it with a button. That’s true of any nuke. There are plenty of Muslims willing to press the button.
Germany also sells Israel nuke subs.
“Germans do build good U-Boats. But what does the arabs plan to use them for?”
Iran has subs, so the Saudi’s want them. It is a deterrent against Iran primarily. Also, it poses a lesser threat to Israel.
Not quite that issue.
Let me see if I remember this thing.
To implode the pit (and these ere not “gun-barrel” devices, being miniaturized and all) you need a very precisely timed detonation sequence. This is being done with a clock crystal/computer. Over time, and with radiation, the crystal deteriorates and has to be replaced. The smaller the device, the more hairfine the timer.
No, the Germans don't make nuclear powered subs - they make some nice DE boats, some with AIP.
And since Germany doesn't have nuclear weapons, you can't mean nuclear armed subs.
What weapons the Israelis may put in them is solely up to the purchaser.
The Germans have sold the Israelis Dolphin subs (5, I think), and some of them can carry nuclear armed Popeye missiles.
Europe, Norway in particular, have been protesting hysterically.
I also recall that Lebed died in a helo “accident” six years after he ran for Russian President.
“I also recall that Lebed died in a helo “accident” six years after he ran for Russian President.”
Putin’s wife, Lyudmila disappeared when he started dating a supermodel. Anybody who wrote a critical article died. Anybody who’s a danger to Putin is as good as dead.
Good analysis. Despite the rhetoric about Israel, they need Israel as a whipping boy to distract their muslim populace to focus anger on an enemy. They will attack Israel in lesser ways, but not totally wipe out Israel. What they want, is to subjugate Jews under their control. Can't do that by nuking them.
Easily my favorite skeet surfin’ music video. :)
Thanks for your reply. I also saw a story today that one of the “P Riot” girls has “disappeared” in prison. She was one of the band members that Putin had incarcerated, a few months back. I didn’t get a chance to analyze the story, but it certainly would support your statement !
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24786119
From what I’ve read about Russian prisons she’s either been sold to somebody or she’s dead. In any case, there’s nobody required to account for her. It must be similar to Saudi prisons where they aren’t even required to tell anybody you’re there.
Sounds about right; no life insurance salesman will be knocking on her family’s door !
You could probably launch a Popeye from a fishing trawler. Would you call such a trawler a nuclear ship?
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