| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| FranceÂ’s Armaris Offers Submarines to Pakistan |
| 2006-09-09 |
| French naval export company Armaris on Aug. 28 made a formal offer of three Marlin diesel-electric patrol submarines to Pakistan, a deal that would include MBDA Exocet SM39 missiles, a Pakistani official said Sept. 8. The French government granted approval for Armaris to offer the Marlin SSK in May, after long hesitation for fear of upsetting India, which recently bought six French Scorpene submarines, also armed with Exocet anti-ship weapons. MBDA declined comment. Armaris officials were not immediately available. Complicating the sale for France is the Pakistan NavyÂ’s preference for the Boeing Harpoon missile. The U.S. government has authorized the sale of 30 submarine-launched versions of the Harpoon to Islamabad. Acquisition of the Harpoon would be a first for Pakistan, as its forces have only operated the air-launched and surface ship versions so far. The Pakistan Navy operates the French DCN-designed Agosta 90B Khalid boat, armed with Exocets. French business daily La Tribune reported Sept. 8 that Spanish and Germany industry were working on their offers to Pakistan. The Marlin would be an updated, all-French version of the Franco-Spanish Scorpene boat and include air-independent propulsion. The sub deal is likely to be worth $1 billion to $1.2 billion. Armaris is a DCN-Thales joint venture. |
| Posted by:john |
| #9 These guys can't operate a few lousy greenhouses, let alone a submarine. FOTSGreg, you may be slightly confused on the subject matter here. The French submarines are going to Pakistan. The inability to preserve, operate or even appreciate greenhouses is a hallmark of the Palestinians. I know, starts with a capital "P" and ends with a consonant, so you were close. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-09 23:54 |
| #8 Oops! Er...that was me... Different computer - no cookie... |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-09-09 23:49 |
| #7 Feh! These guys can't operate a few lousy greenhouses, let alone a submarine. What makes anybody think these things would be anything more than floating tombs for what could laughingly be caled Paleostinian sailors - or barring that - semi-sunk rustbuckets sitting in a dock somewhere along the Gaza coastline? Heck, even the Russians can't figure out how to keep most of their navy afloat these days. Running a submarine is expensive. |
| Posted by: Phise Slineger2929 2006-09-09 20:42 |
| #6 Let'em get French subs. Yeah, that's the ticket. The French submarines have got to be very good, high-quality stuff with a long history of successful combat. Heh. Successful operators of Submarines: US Navy, Royal Nacy, and German Navy. Period. End-of-list. Heh. |
| Posted by: Brett 2006-09-09 19:57 |
| #5 Really put Pakiwackiland's shorts in a bunch by offering India a half-dozen of the older 688-class subs as they reach the end of their service life in OUR navy. Far better than anything the Paks (or the French) have. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-09-09 16:52 |
| #4 Pressure on India to buy more French. |
| Posted by: cynical 2006-09-09 16:38 |
| #3 And because the US has used the possibility of F-16 sales to do some behavior mod with the Pakistan factions. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-09-09 16:32 |
| #2 $1.2 billion |
| Posted by: john 2006-09-09 16:10 |
| #1 Why? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-09-09 15:04 |