Hi,
Thank you for tagging me---.
ISIS----came from nowhere and became such a massive threat within days and months in such a manner that conventional forces had no answer to contain them.
That is one reason to understand---you cannot decide to buy the weapon the day you decide to go to war---.
A submarine type of vehicle---a Frigate---a battle tank---a fighter aircraft---a radar equipment or anything that is needed to do battle---you sign a contract 10 to 15 years before you think that you might need it----.
It will take 2 to 5 years to get what you want---and then comes the integration---the training---more training and then some more training---.
For a first time venture----like into a submarine---saudis---emiratis would need at least 10 to 15 years of experience in the boats to be capable operators. 20 years down the road---they will hold their own depending on their program and training guidelines.
The tier 1 options availabe are the French---the Germans---and the Japanese---. The all out options are the chinese.
@Khafee---you have raised this subject at a perfect time---. I personally think that the saudis and emiratis need to get involved in the grass root level of building the subs and must form a joint venture with china / pakistan.
These two countries need to move away from the mindset of " we have money and we can buy whatever we want to and we can buy others to do our biddings---"---" because in the combats of future---the others may change sides mid-stride---and for that very reason---both these countries need to be self sufficient "...
Plus there there nothing like building your own weapons and operating them successfully that builds confidence in you like nothing else---. It is like an aphrodisiac. It opens up the mind and brings in a bigger picture of what is being done.
When you build a machine with your hands---it gives you a different working perception of its operation and utility.
The enemy of KSA and GCC is not going to wait for these countries to arm up---. The enemy already has an operational advantage of submarine warfare---the enemy also has an advantage of sea warfare---which is seriously lacking in KSA and GCC---.
KSA and GCC will have to learn and understand one day that the best helping hand is at the end of their own arm---but till then---it has to formulate alliance---with you know whom.
The german option is not reliable---there is too much influence of the public.
I think the best bet is the chinese subs---with european battle control systems---where Turkey can be a big help as well.
That is what I would do---if I had the authority to make the decision and overlook the operation---.
I would start from the bottoms up---KSA and GCC labor involvement in building---the labor I mean would be non comms and officers in the navies of these countries working at the grass root levels in putting the machine together---.
At this stage in the life of KSA and GCC---just buying and operating is not enough---the young men of these countries need to have a hands on experience how to put them together---maintain and operate them.
A chinese package---thus would give them their much needed capability of patrolling under the surface of the seas and taking control of their destiny.
The GCC and the KSA have missed out bad on getting involved in the JF17 at the grass roots---. 10 Jr officers and 20 techs each would have brought in such massive dividends for the air forces of both these countries.
They should not---they must not repeat this mistake again---. I still think that the chinese paltform is the best platform for them---a similar one to the pakistani platform---.
Will make the operation---training and maintenance a much much easier task---. And that is what my emphasis would be---if I was presenting my case in front of the powers to be.
