Argentina in talks with Naval Group, ThyssenKrupp for three submarines

SANTIAGO, Chile — Argentina is involved in “advanced negotiations” to buy three new diesel-electric submarines, according to an official report sent to the legislature last week and made public on Wednesday.

The project, with an estimated minimum cost of $1.3 billion, aims to fulfill the needs of the Argentine Navy, which has no operational submarine today.

Signed by Agustin Rossi, the chief of Argentina’s Cabinet of Ministers, the report was meant to address questions and concerns expressed by members of defense committees in both the Senate and the House of Deputies — the two chambers of the Argentine Congress.

Argentine Defense Minister Jorge Taiana previously hinted that priority would be given to acquiring submarines, but he spoke only about procuring two boats. But Rossi’s report confirms advanced discussions about acquiring the submarines took place with representatives of French shipbuilder Naval Group, and that talks are also underway with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

The report pointed out that, in both cases, the governments of France and Germany are also involved in the negotiations, as they are expected and willing to provide credits to fund an eventual order as well as serve as the contract guarantor.

According to the report, the Argentine government intends to reach an agreement on technical requirements and financial matters as well as award a contract by the end of this year. Notably, President Alberto Fernandez’s term will end in December 2023, although he can run for reelection.

Local military sources in Buenos Aires, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press, told Defense News that Naval Group is offering submersibles of the Scorpene type as well as the diesel-electric version of the newest Barracuda class.

They added that TKMS is offering boats from both the Type 209/1400 and the Type 214 classes.

While the cost of purchasing three diesel-electric submarines is said to have a minimum price of $1.3 billion, local independent analyst Luis Piñeiro said that could increase to $1.5 billion or more because of “technical requirements, equipping, and other associated costs like the acquisition of torpedoes and missiles.”

But, Piñeiro added, “to acquire new, advanced submarines would provide denial-of-sea and maritime-deterrence capacities, which are the best and fastest way to make good [on] the limitations that Argentina faces in the naval dimension today.”

After ARA San Juan — a 2,300-ton, German-built, TR-1700-class submarine — was lost in the Atlantic Ocean with all 44 crew members onboard in November 2017, the Argentine Navy was left with no operational submarine. ARA Santa Cruz, a sister ship of ARA San Juan, has been undergoing protracted refitting work since 2014.

Meanwhile, Argentina is using the ARA Salta, an older, German-built Type 209 submarine that is currently unable to navigate, for static training.

José Higuera is a Latin America correspondent for Defense News.

智利圣地亚哥——据上周提交给立法机构并于周三公开的一份官方报告显示，阿根廷正在就购买三艘新的柴电潜艇进行“深入谈判”。

该项目预计至少耗资 13 亿美元，旨在满足阿根廷海军的需求，阿根廷海军目前没有现役潜艇。

该报告由阿根廷内阁部长奥古斯丁·罗西签署，旨在回应阿根廷国会两院——参议院和众议院——国防委员会成员提出的问题和关切。

阿根廷国防部长豪尔赫·塔亚纳此前曾暗示，采购潜艇将是优先事项，但他当时只谈到采购两艘潜艇。不过，罗西的报道证实，阿根廷已与法国海军集团的代表就采购潜艇事宜进行了深入磋商，并且目前也在与德国蒂森克虏伯海事系统公司进行谈判。

报告指出，在这两种情况下，法国和德国政府也参与了谈判，因为预计并愿意提供信贷来资助最终的订单，并担任合同担保人。

据报道，阿根廷政府计划在今年年底前就技术要求和财务事宜达成协议并授予合同。值得注意的是，阿尔贝托·费尔南德斯总统的任期将于2023年12月结束，但他可以竞选连任。

布宜诺斯艾利斯当地军方消息人士（因未获授权接受媒体采访而要求匿名）告诉《防务新闻》，海军集团正在提供鲉鱼级潜艇以及最新梭鱼级潜艇的柴电版本。

他们补充说，TKMS 提供 209/1400 型和 214 型两种级别的船只。

虽然购买三艘柴电潜艇的最低价格据称是 13 亿美元，但当地独立分析师路易斯·皮涅罗表示，由于“技术要求、装备和其他相关成本，如鱼雷和导弹的采购”，价格可能会增加到 15 亿美元或更多。

但皮涅罗补充说，“获得新型先进潜艇将提供海上拒止和海上威慑能力，这是弥补阿根廷目前在海军领域所面临的局限性的最佳和最快途径。”

2017年11月，排水量2300吨、德国建造的TR-1700级潜艇“圣胡安”号在大西洋沉没，艇上44名艇员全部遇难。此后，阿根廷海军失去了一艘可作战的潜艇。“圣胡安”号的姊妹舰“圣克鲁斯”号自2014年以来一直在进行旷日持久的改装工作。

与此同时，阿根廷正在使用 ARA Salta 号进行静态训练。ARA Salta 号是一艘较老的德国制造的 209 型潜艇，目前无法航行。

何塞·伊格拉是《防务新闻》拉丁美洲记者。