ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems today officially handed over the fourth Type 209/1400mod class submarine, named “S44”, to the Navy of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems:
I would like to thank everyone involved for the open dialogue and the trusting cooperation. The success would not have been possible without the professionalism and competence of our employees, customers and suppliers. The handover of the fourth and last HDW Class 209/1400mod submarine in the project means, that our Egyptian colleagues will return home. We wish them all the best for the future and hope to welcome them back at our shipyard for further projects soon.”
05 Sep 2012, the Egyptian Government has signed an agreement with Germany for the procurement of two Howaldtswerke-Deutche Werft (HDW)-built SSK Manthatisi-class Type-209 submarines aimed at boosting its naval fleet capability, Egypt’s Naval commander Osama Ahmed el-Gendy has announced.
The contract for the delivery of the first two 209/1400 mod class submarines to the Arab Republic of Egypt was signed in 2011. In 2015, Egypt decided to take the option for two additional units. The first submarine was handed over in December 2016, the second in August 2017 and the third in April 2020. All four submarines will enhance Egypt’s defense capabilities and combat efficiency, achieve maritime security, and protect Egyptian coasts as well as the economic interests between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
The value of the deal has not been made public, although the same model has previously been purchased by South Africa at a cost of $285 million per unit.
In 2011, Egypt signed the contract for the delivery of the first two 209/1400mod-class submarines and decided to exercise the option for two additional submarines in 2015.
In December 2016, the Egyptian Navy officially received the first HDW 209/1400mod class submarine ‘S41’.
The second boat was delivered in August 2017 and the third was handed over in April last year.
About „S44“: In September 2020, the “S44” was named and launched at the shipyard of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in Kiel. The submarine is extremely reliable, can stay submerged for a long time, is fast, and hard to locate thanks to their low signatures.
With a surface displacement capacity of 1,450t, the vessels are 62m-long and can accommodate a crew of 30.
The submarines will help the country improve its defense capabilities and combat efficiency, while safeguarding economic interests between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Germany became the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter in 2015, overtaken for the first time by China.
Egypt imported almost $3bn worth of arms in 2014, with figures for 2015 not yet available.
Egypt is a large customer for German military hardware, ordering 802 million euros worth of equipment in 2019. However, German exports have been controversial due to concerns over human rights abuses in Egypt and Egypt’s support for countries like Saudi Arabia, which is involved in conflict in Yemen.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Egypt’s arms imports tripled between 2010–14 and 2015–19, making it the world’s third-largest arms importer, with the acquisition of attack helicopters, fighter jets, naval vessels and other hardware. The upward trend in Egypt’s arms imports coincides with its military involvement in Libya and in Yemen, and fighting with rebel groups in the Sinai Peninsula. It might also be linked to Egypt’s concerns over the security of gas fields in the Mediterranean and water supply from the Nile Basin, SIPRI said.
Egypt may acquire additional hardware from Germany, after the German parliament in April 2019 approved the sale of six Meko A200 frigates to Egypt, providing guarantees of up to 2.3 billion euros for the transaction.
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