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Monday 19 April 2010

Submarine deals: The French connection - Anil Netto

A submarine that has problems diving?
John Berthelson of the Asian Sentinel has given us something more to think about here.

The manufacturer says the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman has successfully completed sea trials following “scheduled maintenance”. See statement here. – Photo by DCNS.
So far, 10 Scorpene subs have been ordered from DCNS – two for Chile, two for Malaysia (at a cost of RM3.4 billion) and six for India. DCNS designed the Scorpene and developed it jointly with Spanish naval shipbuilder Navantia. The second Scorpene for Malaysia, the KD Tun Razak, is expected to reach Lumut in the middle of the year.

Services for the submarines in Malaysia are supposed to be handled by Perimekar, which is reportedly associated with the Boustead Group. This is the same Boustead that is claiming damages from the Penang Island Municipal Council because it was asked to scale down its hotel in the heritage zone of George Town.
(Apart from selling Scorpenes to Malaysia, DCNS was also involved in a Stealth Frigate Programme with Singapore.)
Meanwhile, Pakistan is reportedly interested in acquiring seven submarines, three of them French Marlin class latest diesel electric conventional versions “in a bid to meet any challenge from the rapidly expanding Indian navy”.
And where is Pakistan reportedly turning to for the French submarines? Why DCN of course. $$$
With French prosecutors investigating several submarine deals, some people could be in for sleepless nights.

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