The acquisition of three class 209 type 1400 MOD submarines from the German Submarine Consortium (GSC) is the only contract of the initial R30-bn defence package that has yet to be effected.

Although the contract has been signed, no money has been moved because the South African government has certain reservations regarding the National Industrial Participation (Nip) effort linked to the deal.

Currently, government is in discussions with the promoters of the Nip programme and the issue is expected to be resolved this month.

The GSC consists of three companies; namely Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG, Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH and Ferrostaal.

'The South African Navy (SAN) will be acquiring the 1 400 t version of the famous 209 class submarine, which is successfully operated by many navies, including Brazil and Turkey;" says Department of Defence (DOD) director of naval acquisition Rear-Admiral (Junior Grade) Van der Schÿf.

As part of the defence industrial participation (Dip) many local companies will be producing components for the submarines systems and subsystems.

The submarines will be configured with Isus 90 sonar and command systems that will be integrated in Germany.

Grintek will manufacture the entire communications system and the electronic support measures systems will be produced by Avitronics, reports Van der Schÿf.

Zeiss periscopes, attack and optronic, will be procured, and a significant quantity of work has been awarded to the local company Eloptro.

Local company Tellumat is the major subcontractor on the submarines, dealing with the sonar system as a whole.

"The monitoring and tracing of self noise is far more advanced due to the hydrophones and accelerometers used on the vessel," reveals Van der Schÿf.

The current synchrolift and submarine refit shed at Simon's Town naval base can accommodate the new sub­ marines with no difficulty.

Berthing fenders will, however, need to be made and installed; the tugs may need adaptation, allowing them to push, as well as pull; and the battery maintenance facility will need to be upgraded.

The justification for the submarines is simple according to the SAN - to protect South Africa's sea trading routes and territorial integrity.

"In tonnage, more than 95% of South Africa's exports and imports pass through its ports," elaborates Van der Schÿf.

Operationally, submarines form a crucial part of any balanced navy, explains Van der Schÿf.

The submarines also act as force multipliers enabling the relatively small SAN surface fleet to provide defence and deterrence on a level that belies its size.

This also enables the Navy to save on costs with the size and sophistication of the surface vessels.

While the submarines could be described as a total package deal with little risk for the local industry and navy, although there are substantial Dip initiatives, the corvette programme does, however, carry a direct risk apportioned to local contractors and the DOD will carry some of the responsibility from a cost point of view.

Van der Schÿf stresses that, with the submarines, as well as the corvettes, the DOD has contracted on the highest level, leaving the risk where it belongs – with the primary contractor.

He points out that the contracts come from one reputable supplier in Germany.

'This reduces the inherent risk, as well as providing an element of standardisation between the corvettes and submarines."

The corvette programme strategy is to build and accept all ship-platforms (hulls and machinery) in Germany, sail them to Simon's Town for integration with the mainly locally-supplied combat systems and carry out vessel trials and acceptance in South African waters.

The Meko A200 SAN will be the most technologically advanced corvette in the world, with several design features being reported· world fasts.

To ensure project schedules are met, Van der Schÿf points out that development of the locally-produced systems and subsystems need to be ready for integration when required.

The first Corvette will sail into Simon's Town naval base in early 2003, and Van der Schÿf suggests that most of the combat systems should be ready by this time.

Thereafter the ships will arrive at six­month intervals and the local industry will need to ensure that its production of combat systems meets this time frame.

Van der Schÿf concludes "the packages are a long awaited event and have given the SAN a new lease of life - it will be an enormous challenge to re­ establish our capabilities and we will need total commitment by everyone to make it a success".