Posted on 08/22/2015 5:21:58 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Morocco and Russia are close to reaching a deal on the delivery of a Russian-made Amur-1650 (project 677E) submarine which would be the kingdom’s first submarine, World Tribune reported.
The contract is expected to be signed during King Mohammed VI’s trip to Moscow later this year. The two countries have been in talks on the issue in several stages since 2013, according to the media outlet.
The sum of the deal may be €300 million ($342 million), Afrik.com reported.
During the DSA-2014 international arms forum in Malaysia, the Malaysian navy also expressed interest for the submarine.
"Malaysian navy commander visited our display and expressed interest in our Amur-1650 submarines," a Rosoboronexport spokesman told Rossiskaya Gazeta.
The Amur-1650 diesel-electric powered submarine was developed by the Rubin design bureau. In addition to an air-independent power plant, the submarine is equipped with a regular diesel generator and a set of accumulator plants. While surfaced it is propelled by the diesel-electric power plant, and by the accumulators and the air-independent power plant while submerged. Thus, the submarine has the technical specs close to a nuclear-powered one.
In comparison with its predecessors, the Amur-1650 submarine is capable of multiple missiles firing (up to six missiles at once) and has a hydroacoustic system with unique sonar for detecting low-noise targets at various distances.
The main feature of the Amur-1650 is its extreme quietness. According to experts, the new submarine outperforms the submarines of Varshavyanka (project 636) class which are now believed to be the most silent submarines in the world.
The Amur-1650 has a length of 66.8 meters and a beam of 7.1 meters. While submerged, the submarine can reach speed of 21 knots (39 kmh) at a distance of 650 miles. The submarine can submerge at a depth of 250 meters. The armament includes 18 torpedoes and 10 vertical silo-based missiles.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150822/1026060064/morocco-russia-amur1650.html#ixzz3jXtnXzwU
They are very quiet on the bottom of the ocean.
AIP boats ARE very quiet when submerged. However, I suspect that it can be smelled pretty easily given the nationalist of the crew. Maybe it’s time to bring back the 1960’s “Sniffer” technology.
that would be... “nationality of the crew.”
It would be interesting to know why Morocco feels the need for a submarine, or anything more than a coast guard, for that matter.
Delusions of grandiosity.
If your navy has never had any experience in submarines then who do you get to run it? I assume that submarine captains in the U.S. Navy have years of experience in submarine operations before they take command. I’m also assuming it isn’t like running a surface ship, so who do they get to be captain?
To extract tribute from infidels daring to transit the Straight of Gibraltar.
Delusions of adequacy.
They are lining up for their destiny in the Big Battle to destroy Israel.
By the shores of Tripoli? ;)
With the current occupier of the White House, good plan.
Trillions for tribute, not one cent for defense!
Why in the hell does Morocco need a submarine of any kind? Most wars between small nations are utterly retarded. At most, nations like that should possess some helicopters for coastal rescue and a few patrol boats.
Also one sub is kinda like buying -one- F-16.
Lunacy.
A retired USN or Russian, or German, or Brit sub Captain working as a very highly paid contractor. That would be my guess. I doubt just any old camel jockey or prince gets the keys.
How are they going to get one of those on a train?
ISIS Navy?
The question is: Are they looking to keep their natives in; or other natives out?
With 2000 miles of coastline; useless.
The Strait of Gibraltar; Danger, danger...
Who does Morocco think is a naval threat that they need this boat?
Being a small ‘country’, it’s cheaper for Morocco to go underwater if/when the O-Kerry v.s. Iran verbiage breaks down (and if it doesn’t, well, underwater gambling!).
Morocco are now richer than four feet up a bull’s butt.
The king has money to burn.
Their phosphate reserves make them the Saudi Arabia of the stuff. People need oil but they probably need productive farm land and food more.
Morocco has the future by the tail on a downhill pull for at least a century into the future or more.
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