| The U.S. Navy has agreed to lease a Swedish submarine and its crew for a year so U.S. nuclear-powered subs and other Navy anti-submarine warfare units can practice hunting it. In Norfolk the Fleet Forces Command signed a $17.5 million memorandum of understanding with the Swedish navy under which it will send a Gotland-class sub to San Diego, where Los Angeles-class fast attack submarines will hunt it. The U.S. Navy is interested in studying the quietness of the diesel-powered boats, as the Navy now only operates nuclear-powered submarines. The submarine will provide up to 160 days of service during the contract's term. The submarine's air independent propulsion system allows it to spend up to two weeks at sea, submerged and without snorkeling, while traveling at nearly 6 m.p.h. on batteries alone. While the Swedish boat will be attached to San Diego-based Submarine Squadron 11, the vessel will be Swedish-flagged, commanded, manned and operated, with U.S. Navy personnel aboard as riders and observers. The project will allow U.S. naval personnel to practice acoustic analysis aboard all anti-submarine platforms, including carriers, surface ships and aircraft. The training is timely, as the world's oceans are awash with diesel-powered boats; both China and India operate Soviet Kilo-class submarines, while Pakistan will shortly field French Scorpene-class submarines built under license. |