Scorpène class submarine
Encyclopedia
Scorpène class submarines are a class of diesel-electric
attack submarine jointly developed by the French
DCN
and the Spanish
company Navantia
and now by DCNS. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion
(AIP).
The Chilean Navy
ordered two Scorpène, which replaced two Oberon class submarine
s retired by the Chilean Navy. The Royal Malaysian Navy
ordered two, and the Indian Navy
ordered six. All Indian boats will be built in India at Mazagon Dock Limited, and the last two are to be fitted with the indigenous AIP module. For the follow on requirement of six submarines, DCNS plans to offer a larger version of the submarine to the Indian navy. In 2008, the Brazilian Navy
ordered four Scorpènes.
The Chilean Scorpène class O'Higgins and Carrera were completed in 2005 and 2006, respectively. In 2009, the Royal Malaysian Navy commissioned Tunku Abdul Rahman
and Tun Abdul Razak.
derivative, the downsized CA-2000 coastal submarine and the enlarged S-BR for the Brazilian Navy
without AIP.
The Chilean and Malaysian boats are fitted with the TSM 2233 Mk 2 sonar. The class can also be with an 'S-Cube' sonar suite from Thales
.
Each MESMA system costs around $50–60 million. As installed on the Scorpène, it requires adding a new 8.3 meter (27 foot), 305 tonne hull section to the submarine, and results in a submarine able to operate for greater than 21 days underwater, depending on variables like speed.
submarines have been ordered instead. This has caused conflicts and controversies between DCNS and Navantia as the latter is still involved in the construction of the submarines sold to India, Malaysia and Chile while the S-80 is offered on the export market. As an answer to the concurrence from the S-80, DCNS designed its own enhanced version of the Scorpène called the Marlin class
but little is known about this design and the Scorpène is still offered by France on the export market.
In 2005, India chose the Scorpène' design; purchasing six for US$ 3 billion (US$500m per boat). These submarines are to be manufactured under a technology transfer agreement by the state-owned Mazgoan Docks in Mumbai and delivered between 2010 and 2015. Construction started on 23 May 2007.
In 2009 Brazil purchased 4 enlarged Scorpène for US$ 9,9 billion with a big technology transfer agreement and a second agreement to develop a French/Brazilian nuclear powered submarine. The hull of the first S-BR (S35) was laid down at Cherbourg on 27 May 2010 and is to be jumboïzed at Brazilian Navy Shipyard in Sepetiba
late 2012. The latter 3 submarines will be entirely built there and are planned to be commissioned in 2018, 2020 and 2021. The nuclear powered submarine could be a variant of the Scorpène class (which would make it similar in concept to the ) or a more powerful Barracuda class one.
On March 1, 2011 the Naval Shipyard Gdynia of Poland and DCNS offered a license to build a yet undisclosed number of modified Scorpene class submarines for the Polish Navy
, Scorpène are competing with German Type 214 submarine
.
as it involved current Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
, when he was defence minister and his friend Abdul Razak Baginda
whose company Primekar was alleged to be paid a huge commission during the purchase of two Scorpene submarines. French investigators are interested in the fact that Perimekar was formed only a few months before the contract was signed with the Malaysian government and DCNS and that Primekar had no track record in servicing submarines and didn't have the financial capability to support the contract.
Diesel-electric
Diesel-electric transmission or diesel-electric powertrain is used by a number of vehicle and ship types for providing locomotion.A diesel-electric transmission system includes a diesel engine connected to an electrical generator, creating electricity that powers electric traction motors...
attack submarine jointly developed by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
DCN
DCN
DCNS is a naval defence company based in France and is one of Europe's leading shipbuilders....
and the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
company Navantia
Navantia
Navantia, formerly Bazán or IZAR, is a Spanish shipbuilding firm, which offers its services to both military and civil sector. It is the fifth largest shipbuilder in Europe, and the ninth largest in the world with shipyards all over Spain....
and now by DCNS. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion
Air-independent propulsion
Air-independent propulsion is a term that encompasses technologies which allow a submarine to operate without the need to surface or use a snorkel to access atmospheric oxygen. The term usually excludes the use of nuclear power, and describes augmenting or replacing the diesel-electric propulsion...
(AIP).
The Chilean Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
ordered two Scorpène, which replaced two Oberon class submarine
Oberon class submarine
The Oberon class was a 27-boat class of British-built diesel-electric submarines based on the successful British Porpoise-class submarine....
s retired by the Chilean Navy. The Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
ordered two, and the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
ordered six. All Indian boats will be built in India at Mazagon Dock Limited, and the last two are to be fitted with the indigenous AIP module. For the follow on requirement of six submarines, DCNS plans to offer a larger version of the submarine to the Indian navy. In 2008, the Brazilian Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
ordered four Scorpènes.
The Chilean Scorpène class O'Higgins and Carrera were completed in 2005 and 2006, respectively. In 2009, the Royal Malaysian Navy commissioned Tunku Abdul Rahman
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is a built for the Royal Malaysian Navy by DCNS in Cherbourg and Navantia in Cartagena, Spain. The fore section was built at DCNS and joined to the aft section, which was built by Navantia....
and Tun Abdul Razak.
Scorpène characteristics
The Scorpène class of ships has four subtypes : the CM-2000 conventional diesel-electric version, the AM-2000 AIPAir-independent propulsion
Air-independent propulsion is a term that encompasses technologies which allow a submarine to operate without the need to surface or use a snorkel to access atmospheric oxygen. The term usually excludes the use of nuclear power, and describes augmenting or replacing the diesel-electric propulsion...
derivative, the downsized CA-2000 coastal submarine and the enlarged S-BR for the Brazilian Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
without AIP.
The Chilean and Malaysian boats are fitted with the TSM 2233 Mk 2 sonar. The class can also be with an 'S-Cube' sonar suite from Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
.
Air-independent propulsion
The French MESMA (Module d'Energie Sous-Marine Autonome) system is being offered by the French shipyard DCN for the Scorpène class submarines. It is essentially a modified version of their nuclear propulsion system with heat being generated by ethanol and oxygen. A conventional steam turbine power plant powered by steam generated from the combustion of ethanol (grain alcohol) and stored oxygen at a pressure of 60 atmospheres. This pressure-firing allows exhaust carbon dioxide to be expelled overboard at any depth without an exhaust compressor.Each MESMA system costs around $50–60 million. As installed on the Scorpène, it requires adding a new 8.3 meter (27 foot), 305 tonne hull section to the submarine, and results in a submarine able to operate for greater than 21 days underwater, depending on variables like speed.
Orders
In 2003 the Spanish government ordered 4 Scorpène-AIP submarines worth €1,756 million. Implying a cost of 439 million Euros each. However the order of 4 Scorpène submarines for the Spanish navy was canceled and four S-80 classS-80 class
The S-80 Class is a series of submarines of advanced technology that is currently under construction for the Spanish Navy. Initially there will be four units, with a future expansion to six, two of which are in production by the Spanish company Navantia at its factory in Cartagena...
submarines have been ordered instead. This has caused conflicts and controversies between DCNS and Navantia as the latter is still involved in the construction of the submarines sold to India, Malaysia and Chile while the S-80 is offered on the export market. As an answer to the concurrence from the S-80, DCNS designed its own enhanced version of the Scorpène called the Marlin class
Marlin class submarine
Marlin class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarine. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion , developed solely by the French company DCNS, formerly DCN, after the Spanish company Navantia , its partner in the Scorpène design, went with...
but little is known about this design and the Scorpène is still offered by France on the export market.
In 2005, India chose the Scorpène' design; purchasing six for US$ 3 billion (US$500m per boat). These submarines are to be manufactured under a technology transfer agreement by the state-owned Mazgoan Docks in Mumbai and delivered between 2010 and 2015. Construction started on 23 May 2007.
In 2009 Brazil purchased 4 enlarged Scorpène for US$ 9,9 billion with a big technology transfer agreement and a second agreement to develop a French/Brazilian nuclear powered submarine. The hull of the first S-BR (S35) was laid down at Cherbourg on 27 May 2010 and is to be jumboïzed at Brazilian Navy Shipyard in Sepetiba
Sepetiba
Sepetiba is a neighborhood in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by Santa Cruz and Guaratiba, and by the Sepetiba Bay. It occupies an area of 1,162.13 ha, and has a population of 35,892 .The origin of the name Sepetiba is the Tupi, which has the word "Sipitiba" as an alternative and...
late 2012. The latter 3 submarines will be entirely built there and are planned to be commissioned in 2018, 2020 and 2021. The nuclear powered submarine could be a variant of the Scorpène class (which would make it similar in concept to the ) or a more powerful Barracuda class one.
On March 1, 2011 the Naval Shipyard Gdynia of Poland and DCNS offered a license to build a yet undisclosed number of modified Scorpene class submarines for the Polish Navy
Polish Navy
The Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
, Scorpène are competing with German Type 214 submarine
Type 214 submarine
The Type 214 is a diesel-electric submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH . It features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion system using Siemens polymer electrolyte membrane hydrogen fuel cells...
.
Corruption investigation
An investigation is being conducted by French prosecutors involving a wide range of corruption charges involving different submarine sales, with the possible bribery and kickbacks to top officials in France. In particular interest by the prosecutors are sales of Scorpene submarines to countries like India & Malaysia. The investigation in Malaysia has been prompted by human rights group SuaramSuaram
SUARAM, or Suara Rakyat Malaysia, is a human rights organization in Malaysia created in 1987 after Operation Lalang, when 106 opposition, unions, activist leaders were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act...
as it involved current Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
, when he was defence minister and his friend Abdul Razak Baginda
Abdul Razak Baginda
Abdul Razak Baginda is a former political analyst from Malaysia, and close associate of the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. He became prominent in 2006 when he was charged with abetting the murder of a Mongolian woman. He was acquitted on October 31, 2008 when the Malaysian High...
whose company Primekar was alleged to be paid a huge commission during the purchase of two Scorpene submarines. French investigators are interested in the fact that Perimekar was formed only a few months before the contract was signed with the Malaysian government and DCNS and that Primekar had no track record in servicing submarines and didn't have the financial capability to support the contract.
Ships
| Pennant no. | Name | Country | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Homeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S22 | O'Higgins | 18 November 1999 | 1 November 2003 | 8 September 2005 | Talcahuano Talcahuano Talcahuano is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile.-Geography:... |
|
| S23 | Carrera | November 2000 | 24 November 2004 | 20 July 2006 | Talcahuano Talcahuano Talcahuano is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile.-Geography:... |
|
| KD Abdul Rahman | 25 April 2004 | 23 October 2007 | January 2009 | Sepanggar Sepanggar Sepanggar is a sub-district of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. It is located around Sepanggar Bay which houses the Sepanggar Bay Container Terminal, a major naval base for the Royal Malaysian Navy as well as the Sepanggar Bay Oil Terminal... |
||
| KD Abdul Razak | 25 April 2005 | October 2008 | December 2009 | Sepanggar Sepanggar Sepanggar is a sub-district of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. It is located around Sepanggar Bay which houses the Sepanggar Bay Container Terminal, a major naval base for the Royal Malaysian Navy as well as the Sepanggar Bay Oil Terminal... |
||
| S50 | December 2006 | Expected 2015 | Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was... / Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
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| S51 | December 2007 | Expected 2016 | Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was... / Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
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| S52 | December 2008 | Expected 2017 | Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was... / Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
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| S53 | TBD | TBD | Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was... / Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
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| S54 | TBD | TBD | Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was... / Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
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| S55 | TBD | TBD | Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was... / Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
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| S35 | 27 May 2010 | Expected in 2015 | Sepetiba Sepetiba Sepetiba is a neighborhood in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by Santa Cruz and Guaratiba, and by the Sepetiba Bay. It occupies an area of 1,162.13 ha, and has a population of 35,892 .The origin of the name Sepetiba is the Tupi, which has the word "Sipitiba" as an alternative and... |
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| S36 | TBD | TBD | Sepetiba Sepetiba Sepetiba is a neighborhood in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by Santa Cruz and Guaratiba, and by the Sepetiba Bay. It occupies an area of 1,162.13 ha, and has a population of 35,892 .The origin of the name Sepetiba is the Tupi, which has the word "Sipitiba" as an alternative and... |
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| S37 | TBD | TBD | Sepetiba Sepetiba Sepetiba is a neighborhood in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by Santa Cruz and Guaratiba, and by the Sepetiba Bay. It occupies an area of 1,162.13 ha, and has a population of 35,892 .The origin of the name Sepetiba is the Tupi, which has the word "Sipitiba" as an alternative and... |
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| S38 | TBD | TBD | Sepetiba Sepetiba Sepetiba is a neighborhood in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by Santa Cruz and Guaratiba, and by the Sepetiba Bay. It occupies an area of 1,162.13 ha, and has a population of 35,892 .The origin of the name Sepetiba is the Tupi, which has the word "Sipitiba" as an alternative and... |
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See also
- Type 212 submarineType 212 submarineThe German Type 212 class, also Italian Todaro class, is a highly advanced design of non-nuclear submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG and Fincantieri S.p.a. for the German and Italian Navy. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion system using...
- Type 214 submarineType 214 submarineThe Type 214 is a diesel-electric submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH . It features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion system using Siemens polymer electrolyte membrane hydrogen fuel cells...
- Lada class submarineLada class submarineThe Russian Navy's Project 677 Лада is a submarine class designed by the Russian Rubin Design Bureau. The class is also referred to as the Petersburg class, after the lead ship...
- Gotland class submarineGotland class submarineIn 2004, the Swedish government received a request from the United States of America to lease HMS Gotland – Swedish-flagged, commanded and manned, for a duration of one year for use in anti-submarine warfare exercises. The Swedish government granted this request in October 2004, with both...
External links
- http://www.dcnsgroup.com/cen/scorpene.html
- Scorpene SUBTICS in action
- Scorpene promotional video
- DCN - Scorpène SSK
- Naval Technology - Scorpène description
- Global Security - Scorpène
- Scorpène agreement with India
- Chilean Navy - SS O'higgins in service
- DID - India Looks to Modify Scorpene Subs With MESMA AIP Propulsion