Pakistan has decided to acquire six Air Independent Propulsion conventional submarines from China to be fully capable to operate in a multi-threat environment under tropical conditions and launching torpedoes and missiles, reveal official documents exclusively available with Business Recorder.
For this purpose, a protocol for joint development and co-production of conventional AIP fitted submarines by Pakistan Navy (PN) and China Shipbuilding and Offshore Corporation Limited (SCOC) will be signed shortly after the approval by the federal cabinet. AIP 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 system of non-nuclear vessels. The United States Navy uses the hull classification symbol "SSP" to designate boats powered by AIP, while retaining "SS" for classic diesel-electric attack submarines. According to documents, Pakistan Navy is facing a critical imbalance in terms of submarines and ships vis-à-vis emerged threats.
This capability gap is widening exponentially with the passage of time. Keeping in view the PN's requirements of acquiring submarines, the issue was included in the talking points of the President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China in 2009 and subsequently, it was discussed during the Chinese Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan in December 2010. The matter has been deliberated upon at the highest level at various fora, the documents add.
Ministry of Defence explains that in order to capitalise upon this opportunity, NHQ has pursued the acquisition of submarines with the concerned Chinese authorities. As a result, the administrator for State China has assured his firm support for the submarine project.
Technical negotiations will now start with China Shipbuilding and Offshore Corporation Limited (CSOC) on the proposed acquisition of conventional submarines Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) in order to finalise the draft protocol for further processing with the government.
NHQ has now forwarded a mutually agreed draft protocol to be signed between PN and CSOC as a first step towards joint development of conventional submarines ie AIP on JF 17 Thunder aircraft model. The proposed commercial deal between the two countries on conventional submarines, a copy of which is available with this scribe, is as follows: PN intends to acquire conventional AIP fixed submarines from CSOC as per agreed speculations, through joint development and co-production.
Under this protocol, submarines will be constructed at CSOC's yard and in Pakistan as per agreed arrangements. Co-development and production shall include joint development, training of PN/ Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) personnel, up-gradation of PN's yard and other related aspects including maintenance ie ILS as per respective responsibilities of the parties as defined in the protocol.
The parties have agreed to the following: (i) to invest jointly to develop one new type of conventional submarines with AIP. And the methodology of investment will be discussed when the project becomes reality; (2) CSOC shall appoint one institute to design conventional AIP submarines as per agreement by both sides; (3) for the purpose of establishing agreed technical requirements/ joint development, the parties shall initially work on the base line technical requirements; (4) during joint development, CSOC shall endeavour to incorporate PN requirement to establish final technical specifications for the conventional AIP submarines to be co-produced. Final design shall be certified by CSOC to fulfil pre-requisite as per Chinese military/ Navel standards for conventional AIP submarines; (5) CSOC shall ensure that these submarines shall be fully capable to operate in multi-threat environment under tropical conditions and capable of launching of torpedoes and missiles of Chinese origin; (6) CSOC shall completely construct four submarines at its yard in China; (7) remaining two submarines shall be constructed at PN yard in Pakistan as per the Chinese standards after up-gradation of PN yard by CSOC.
For this, Kit of Material(KoM) of these submarines shall be provided by CSOC; (8) CSOC shall provide lead yard services for completion and outfitting of these submarines at the PN yard in Pakistan;(9) CSOC shall carry out and be responsible for all tests and trials of all KoM, machinery and systems in harbour and at sea.
PN shall provide all necessary facilities and arrangements for harbour and sea trials in Pakistan; (10) CSOC shall be responsible for performance of all submarines to be built in Pakistan, their equipment, machinery and systems in trials in harbour and at sea; (11) CSOC shall also provide technical know-how for construction of conventional AIP submarines along with associated support and lead yard services;(12) CSOC shall provide materials and support services for construction and outfitting and trials of all submarines and after sales/ construction support for at least 30 years; (13) CSOC, for the purpose of up-gradation of maintenance facilities and after sales support, shall provide a comprehensive ILS package for the co-developed/ co-produced conventional AIP submarines; (15) CSOC, for the obligation in the agreement, shall submit a technical proposal, covering all elements of joint development and co-production including operational training and ILS, for the purpose of contract formulation as soon as possible; (16) CSOC, for the obligations listed above, shall submit a commercial proposal, covering all budgetary estimates/ costing of joint development and co-production and financial support proposal for the purpose of contract formulation as soon as possible; (17) PN shall facilitate visits of CSOC's team for site survey/ maintenance facilities to formulate technical and financial proposal by CSOC;(18) PN agrees to respect all the CSOC's reasonable instructions/advises related to building, outfitting, test, trials, upgrading and its yard and quality control; and (19) PN shall where possible provide all agreed information to assist CSOC in its obligations and pay CSOC for all the items and services as per the financial terms to be agreed during formal contract formulation.
The proposed commercial agreement further states "whereas, after both parties get approval from respective governments, CSOC will agree to undertake the work to be performed in order to fulfil the purchaser's requirement on the modalities of this protocol set herein, both parties therefore agree to endeavour to finalise contract for joint development and co-production of conventional AIP submarines as soon as possible. Parties also agree to revise the protocol with mutual negotiations, in case any party has new requirement". The proposal had been submitted to the Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who directed the concerned Ministry to place the matter before the cabinet as required under Rules 16(1) (h) of the Rules of Business, 1973.
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