Malaysian Scorpene Back on Track After Short Setback

Defense Professionals ^ | 1/16/2010 | Nicolas von Kospoth

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Last week, the Malaysian submarine programme, which received much attention during the past months, suffered a temporary setback as Malaysian Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had to announce that the country’s first Scorpene-class submarine, delivered in September 2009, was unfit for diving. Originally scheduled for tropical water trials, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, a diesel-electric attack submarine named after the country's first Prime Minister, was forced to remain on the wharf longer than expected.

According to the Minister, “the defects are still covered by warranty, so the supplier and contractor are repairing them.” Since then, the technical problem has been repaired and the submarine is again able to dive, as DCNS told depfro.com. Royal Malaysian Navy chief, Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, confirmed that tropical water trials would resume on 18 February.

Different press reports, emerging last week, questioned the general performance of the submarines, reporting that this was the third case in a row of technical problems since the submarine was launched from the shipyard of French naval manufacturer DCNS.

However, the Royal Malaysian Navy described the problem as “minor,” which indeed seems to be the case, as DCNS required only a short time to repair the identified flaw. As Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz outlined to reporters, “The damage involves a part that channels water pressure movement which caused the submarine's failure to launch underwater

[OldMissileer]

the country’s first Scorpene-class submarine, delivered in September 2009, was unfit for diving.

They did not hang the screen door properly. :-)

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Prior to World War I there was a worldwide build up of capital warships, which went hand in hand with mutual defense treaties. So when there was an outbreak of war, suddenly many nations were involved.

Today there is a worldwide build up of submarines. 46 nations now have them, and while there are few nuclear submarines, there are increasing numbers of very quiet, air independent diesel electric submarines prowling the oceans of the world.

It is a good question whether this will result in war, overt or covert, with some suggestions that submarines have already engaged in belligerent attacks against surface ships carrying nuclear proliferation cargoes.

However, an even better question is whether one or more of the major powers will decide that too many submarines at sea represent an inherent threat, and to covertly start culling their numbers. With plausible deniability, of course.