SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Philippine Navy (PN) is eyeing two medium-sized submarines to protect its maritime interests necessitating a minimum credible defense posture for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The Philippines which faced threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity has started talks with many countries to acquire submarines at an estimated deal of seventy billion pesos.
Philippine Navy said South Korea, India, and Turkey have sent their interest in bidding on its submarine acquisition program. Interestingly France too has shown interest and has offered its Scorpène diesel-electric submarines.
Indian offer if indeed has been made then likely will be Kalvari class submarine that is based on the Scorpene diesel-electric submarines. Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders has manufactured six Kalvari class submarines for the Indian Navy and has delivered 4 submarines one is waiting for delivery by end of this year and the last in mid-2023.
Although no contractor had been named yet, the Philippine Navy last year said a submarine deal would have been finalized sometime in 2021 or the first semester of 2022 if not for the coronavirus pandemic.
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