October 30, 2007: French
warship builder DCNS has made a deal with the Russian Krylov Shipbuilding
Research Institute, to provide advanced submarine design technology. DCNS
builds France's nuclear and diesel-electric submarines. This includes the new
Barracuda class SSNs as well as the new Scorpene class AIP boats. The Scorpenes
represent a new generation of non-nuclear submarines, like the Russian
Amur/Lama, and the German Type 212, that have been entering service in the last
few years. Unlike past non-nuclear submarines, which used diesel-electric
plants, these new boats use fuel cells or other forms of air-independent
propulsion (AIP). Germany commissioned its first Type 212 boat, using
air-independent propulsion, two years ago. Four of these are being built. These
are special boats, as they possess fuel cells (or AIP, Air Independent
Propulsion) , which enable them to quietly operate underwater for weeks at a
time. They still have diesel propulsion, but this is only used for surface
travel. These AIP boats are also very quiet, quieter than most nuclear boats in
service. This makes them an even match for a current nuclear boat equipped with
better sensors. Â
The Scorpenes are 1,400 ton
(surface displacement) boats, with a crew of 32. Each has six 21 inch torpedo
tubes, and carries 18 torpedoes and/or missiles. The similar German 1,500 ton
212s, for example, are much smaller than nuclear boats (188 feet long, compared
to 360 feet and 6,200 tons for the new U.S. Virginia class SSNs). The nuclear
boats are used for a lot more than hunting other ships, and subs, while the
212s are mainly attack boats, and well designed and equipped for it.
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The development of fuel cell
technology for subs, and use of these boats, has become a mature technology,
and will eventually be available to many more nations. These AIP boats are,
expensive (about $600-700 million each), but that's less than a third the cost
of a nuclear boats. These AIP boats are also highly automated, requiring a crew
of only 30 or so. But with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles (launched from the
tubes, as well as mines), they could be, in the wrong hands, a major threat to
the U.S. fleet. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to run (you don't need as many skilled
sailors for the crew) and very lethal, American admirals are watching very
closely who gets their hands on this technology.
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