According to information published by Zona Militar on October 3, 2024, ongoing negotiations between Argentina and France appear to be progressing towards the acquisition of three Scorpene-class attack submarines.
The deal, reportedly valued at over $2 billion, is under discussion between the Argentine government and French defense contractor Naval Group.
The advancement in talks coincides with Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri’s official visit to Paris, during which key discussions were held to finalize the potential agreement. According to various sources, the two nations are close to signing a Letter of Intent that would outline the terms for the acquisition of the submarines, including the provision of associated services such as spare parts and training.
This move comes at a critical time for Argentina’s Navy, which has been without operational submarines since the tragic loss of the ARA San Juan in 2017. The lack of operational subs has severely diminished the Navy’s capacity for maritime control, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Currently, the Argentine fleet consists of two non-operational submarines, the ARA Santa Cruz and ARA Salta, the latter of which is primarily used for training purposes at the Mar del Plata Naval Base.
While the signing of a Letter of Intent does not legally bind either party, it sets a positive precedent for Naval Group, whose Scorpene-class submarine has already seen adoption in other regional navies. Chile currently operates two Scorpene submarines, and Brazil is in the process of incorporating its third unit, part of a planned four-boat fleet under the Riachuelo-class designation.