Egyptian Navy boosts its naval defence capabilities with new German type 209/1400 submarine

Egypt’s naval forces have received on Thursday 9 April the third Type 209/1400 submarine from Germany, the MoD said in a statement.

Manufactured by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the diesel-electric submarine is equipped with advanced navigation and C2 systems.

The design is single-hulled and allows the commanding officer to see the entire submarine from the bow to stern while standing at the periscope. Four 120-cell batteries are located forward and aft of the C2 center in the lower deck and make up about 25% of the boat’s displacement. The submarine is armed with 8 bows 533 mm torpedo tubes and 14 torpedoes. 

The submarine’s extensive mission profiles include maritime defense, conflict prevention, surveillance and intelligence-gathering tasks as well as special forces operations.

The delivery is part of a deal for four submarines signed in 2011 and 2014.

“Egypt received the submarine after the technical and specialized crew completed simultaneous training in Egypt and Germany in record time,” said Tamer al-Refai, spokesman of the Egyptian armed forces. 

Egypt received the first S41 in December 2016 and the second in August 2017. 

Cooperation between Egypt and Germany has increased significantly under the presidency of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. 

As part of the country strategy for enhancing combat capabilities and diversifying arms imports, Egypt decided to conclude major weapon imports from Russia, France, China, and Germany that included the purchase of maritime vessels, military aircraft, and submarines.

Egypt is working to redevelop and establish its naval fleet and the infrastructure of various berths, bases, installations, and services.

Other countries operating the Type 209 include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Greece, India, Indonesia, Peru, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and Venezuela.

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