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Russia's Black Sea Fleet based in Ukraine's Crimea will receive new frigate-type vessels and diesel-powered submarines by 2015, a top naval officer said Friday. The unnamed admiral gave his reaction to RIA Novosti on some media reports that had earlier said at least two corvettes and three subs would join the Black Sea Fleet within the next five years. "In line with the approved shipbuilding program and armaments program until 2015, the Black Sea Fleet is to receive two frigates and three diesel submarines," the admiral said, stressing that he indeed meant frigates, which are capable of traveling much longer...

U.S. striving to detect diesel submarines The Navy is concentrating its efforts to find the quiet, difficult-to-detect crafts in Asia and the Pacific region. Eric Rosenberg Hearst Newspapers Last update: July 08, 2006 – 11:00 PM WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy is stepping up its program for detecting new diesel-powered submarines that are extremely quiet, hard to find and increasingly relied upon by China, Iran and North Korea.

U.S. kicks off Taiwan submarine competition Wednesday December 18, 6:47 pm ET By Jim Wolf WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy on Wednesday kicked off a potential $4.5 billion competition to help Taiwan buy up to eight conventional submarines, despite strong opposition from China. ADVERTISEMENT The Naval Sea Systems Command, which designs, builds and acquires ships for the U.S. Navy, outlined its plans for the diesel-electric submarines at a two-day session attended by four top U.S. defense contractors. The briefing for industry wound up Wednesday. The competition will be limited to General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:GD - News), Northrop...

US firm buys submarine makerAFPTAIPEIThe American acquisition of the German shipyard Howaldswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) may help remove the barriers to Washington's sale to Taiwan of eight conventional submarines, military experts said yesterday. One Equity Partners, the private equity arm of Bank One Corporation of the US, on Tuesday acquired a 75-percent stake of HDW -- the builder of the German 209-class submarine favored by the Taiwanese navy. The deal caught the limelight in Taipei, with analysts saying it could be part of US efforts to honor its commitment to help arm Taiwan. US President George W. Bush in April last...