Posted on 04/22/2007 4:39:58 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Germany in talks with Pakistan over sale of three submarines
Sunday April 22, 2007 (0608 PST)
Berlin: A German defense consortium is involved in talks with the Pakistani navy over the construction of three conventional submarines, the Berlin-based Neues Deutschland cited a confidential document of the German Finance Ministry. The German government is ready to vouch for the submarine deal with one billion euros.
The planned project is viewed as controversial among politicians in Berlin since the German constitution bars the sale of military equipment in crisis regions.
News reports said earlier that French and German defense firms are vying to sell Pakistan at least three new submarines, in a contract that could be worth up to 1.5 billion US dollars.
Islamabad is reported interested in acquiring the three new advanced versions of conventional submarines in a bid to increase its naval capabilities to meet any challenges from the rapidly expanding Indian navy, military experts say.
Pakistan and Germany have deepened military and security ties over the past years.
Germany has become the fourth country after the United States, Japan and Russia to begin a strategic dialogue with Pakistan.
There are regular political-military talks with Pakistan army officials on security and military issues which include counter- terrorism and training of Pakistani officers in Germany. Pakistani officers have received military training and education trained in Germany in recent years as part of military education and training programs.
A 3,100-strong German force is part of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in neighboring Afghanistan.
As to what they are doing there that’s another matter.
What Model submarine are they proposing to sell? I guess that HDW is the shipyard?
Oh yeah. This is gonna make the Gulf a safer place. For sure.
Our national security is highly dependent upon our ability to develop the most advanced weapons systems. Irrespective of what that says about human nature, it is a fact. It is crucial that we maintain our edge in technology, AND that we have in place the best possible measures to guard against espionage. I’m not confident that we are doing either very well right now.
It is most likely to be the HDW Type-214 class ,which is already an export favourite.
& Here is another tidbit-these subs are most likely to be armed with Harpoon Block-2s,which the Pakis are planning to buy-
http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2006/Pakistan_06-32.pdf
Pakistan now is similar to Iran under the Shah. As soon as Musharraf is gone it will have a cleric leader and become a problem to the free world.
I know that DCN likes to get into the act when it comes to submarines.
Pakistan’s problem are not the Mullahs,but the Army of which Musharraf is just one part.Even if Musharraf was bumped off,there are dozens of generals/brigadiers who can take over.These people run Pakistan collectively.The Islamists in Pakistan have as much power as the army has given them & allows them to have.Most Pakistanis maybe pro-Islam or anti-American,but most don’t favour a theocracy.Name one Muslim leader in Pakistan who commands as much a following as Bhutto or Sharif?
The myth that some Mullah will take over once Musharraf dies is peddled to keep the army in the picture.This makes Pakistan all the more troublesome in the future.
I think DCN are also bidding,but they already have an agreement to build Agosta-90B class submarines in Karachi,so Pakistan may just decide to diversify.
With nukes.....
Its more likely to be a reaction to local politics. The Indians are beginning to assert themselves in the Indian ocean, and the Pakistanis are rightly very concerned about it.
I certainly hope they aren’t selling any of their AIP models. If those models get out of NATO hands, there will be a lot of powers around the world that will be able to challenge our submarine fleet.
The Type-214 comes with the Siemens AIP-that’s why the Pakistanis issued requests for HDW’s participation.There is no way major sub buyers will opt for subs without AIP.The first export customer for any AIP system was Pakistan itself when it brought the French MESMA turbo-electric system for it’s Agosta class boats.
Good analogy.
They will be AIP but not the special amagnetic steel. So a magnetic sensor can trace these subs.
And a Democrat President would be likely to undercut him, much as Carter undercut the Shah, leading to his downfall and enabling the rise of modern radical Islam. At least the Shia side of it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.