Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotaki has unveiled the reform plan for the country’s armed forces, valued at 25 billion euros. The project includes the modernization of the country’s submarine fleet, which includes the upgrade of four conventional diesel-electric (SSK) units, equipped with Papanikolis-class air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, based on the German Type 214 model, and the acquisition of four other new submarines.
The modernization of the four Type 214 submarines equipped with Greek AIPs is estimated at 400 million euros, according to the Greek portal On Alert, which has also advanced which competitors are “on the periscope” as potential builders of the new submarines.
One of those possible manufacturers is the German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), which will compete with its Type 209/1400 model, a 1,440-ton ship with a displacement of 61.2 meters in length and armed with eight 553 mm torpedo tubes.
Another company in the running is the French Naval Group, manufacturer of the export submarine Scorpene Evolved, an updated version of the veteran Scorpene design, in which the current Spanish Navantia participated at the time. This submarine reaches a surface displacement of 2,000 tons spread over its 72 meters of length. It is equipped with six torpedo tubes and is capable of carrying 18 weapons, including torpedoes, missiles and mines.
And finally, the Swedish company Saab is also in the spotlight as a possible manufacturer of the future Greek submarines. This company is in charge of the A26 model, originally developed to equip Sweden. The A26 has a displacement of 1,925 tonnes in a length of just over 66 metres. This model has the uniqueness of having a hatch on its bow, between its torpedo tubes, through which divers and unmanned ships can leave and enter.