TKMS willing to offer Type 218 diesel submarines to clinch India’s Project-75I

[PARIKRAMA]

TKMS willing to offer Type 218 diesel submarines to clinch India’s Project-75I

PublishedDecember 11, 2015

SOURCE: IDRW NEWS NETWORK (INN)

German Company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) which was initially considering offering Type-212A /Type-214 Conventional submarines for India’s Project-75I is now open to offering more recently designed Type 218 diesel-electric submarine developed by its HDW subsidiary to beat rising competition in upcoming Indian Submarine tender to procure Six Stealthy Diesel Submarines equipped with AIP Systems.

According to media reports, TMKS which have started manufacturing two new Type 218SG diesel-electric submarines for the Republic of Singapore Navy is willing to offer new submarine customised as per Indian Navy requirements to meet India’s Project-75I technical requirements.

Type 218 diesel-electric submarine is derived from the Type 214 design while it still uses X-rudder stern configuration which is quite similar to the Type 212A equipped boats which help it provide better manoeuvrability. Type 218 boats will also have been extended in length to accommodate additional mission systems as required by the users.

Type 218 will be will be 70 m in length, 6.3 m in the beam when compared to Scorpène-class submarine which India has been procuring under Projet-75 which are 61.7 m in length, 6.2 m in beam and reportedly will also have higher displacement than Scorpène-class submarine.

Indian Navy has some experience in operating German submarines and have 4 HDW Type-209/1500 in the fleet which were procured in 1980’s. Germany is also offering tried and tested AIP system used in Type-212A /Type-214 boats developed by Siemens which relies on electrochemical generators.

While German offer for Project-75I clearly looks strong with new offerings which offer impressive customization to its users and provide a better future upgrade path. what could be on the downside for Germans is that AIP technology developed by Siemens are more expensive to operate which will lead to the higher price tag for each submarine and will also be technologically different equipment then DRDO developed AIP System which are on similar lines to AIP System offered by their rivals.

http://idrw.org/tkms-willing-to-offer-type-218-diesel-submarines-to-clinch-indias-project-75i/

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Type 218

 

[Skull and Bones]

This is a better proposition, if they can overhaul and upgrade our existing U-209s for free to be operated for another decade, then it'll be a sweeter deal.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

A article by Pete Coates on 218 SG
Submarine Matters: Key TKMS Type 218SG details revealed after partial unveiling

Key TKMS Type 218SG details revealed after partial unveiling

Model of TKMS-HDW Type 218SG taken at IMDEX ASIA [Singapore, May 19-21] 2015 (Courtesy Defense Studies blog)

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Type 218SGs X-plane rudder is similar to the Type 212A's. Photo of model May 2015 (Courtesy "Coffee and Bullets" andDefense Studiesblog).


Predictions that the TKMS-HDW Type 218SG would be a renamed Type 214have been scuttled. TKMS has indicated the 218 weighs around 2,000 tons surfaced and is 70 meters long (while the 214 is up to 1,700 tonnes surfaced and 65 meters long).MHalblaub correctly pointed out several times a year ago that the combined purchase price of the 2 x 218s was less than US$ 2 Billion - a sum only enough for a slightly evolved design. My original prediction of a much larger 3,000 ton (surfaced) design was incorrect - as a radically new 218 design would have cost considerably more.

Singapore ordered the 218s in November 2013. The Type 218SGs are being built at TKMS-HDW shipyard at Kielin northern Germany


Both TKMS and Singapore kept these details secure until May 19, 2015. "Autumn Leaf" in Comments onAugust27, 2015 6:32 PM delicately pointed out onSingapore's Submarine Service - from Sweden to Germany, April 27, 2015 what I should have spotted months ago. That is at IMDEX ASIA [Singapore, May 19-21] 2015 TKMS unveiled a model of the 218 along with some major details.


Autumn Leaf identified two references:
- Kelvin Wong forIHS Jane's TKMS starts construction of Singapore's Type 218SG submarines | IHS Jane's 360 and
- Defense Studiesblog DEFENSE STUDIES: Type 218SG of the Republic of Singapore Navy


From the photos and briefing information (see below) the 218 appears to have features evolved from several TKMS-HDW designs including Types 212A, 214 and Dolphin 2. As they are all SSKs built by TKMS-HDW this evolutionary heritage is not unexpected.

The 70 meter long 218 is approximately 2,000 tons (surfaced). For comparison the 69 meter long Dolphin 2 is 2,050 tons surfaced.

The 218's beam (width) is 6.3 meters and the 214's beam is also 6.3 meters. The 214's draught is 6.0 meters and the Dolphin 2's draught is 6.2 meters making it likely that the 218's draught is in that narrow range - perhaps 6.1 meters.

One might plausibly describe the 218 as a:

- 214 with a long, 5 meter, plug and a 212A X-plane tail OR

- a slight derivative of the Dolphin 2 (without the Dolphin 2's cruciform tail but retaining the Dolphin 2's X-plane rudder tail portion.
FromDefense Studies the figures TKMS indicated have beenbolded here:

Armament -eight 533-mm torpedo tubes - heavyweighttorpedos unknown and cruise missiles.

“torpedo tubes will be used for landing troops and deep sea submersible vehicles for special forces”
The mention of "8 x 533mm torpedo tubes" with part job "used for landing troops and deep sea submersible vehicles for special forces." is contradictory given 533mm's narrowness for troops and vehicles. While 6 tubes may be 533mm one the two remaining tubes might need to be of greater diameter (650mm (as in the Dolphin 2). Or perhaps the 7th and 8th tube places could accommodate what I call a 1.5(?) meter horizontal multi-purpose lock (HMPL) a large diameter tube. A HMPL is seen on the 1,000 ton Type 210mod design (below) which - in design - sacrificed 4 or its previous 8 torpedo tubes. (Long Ranged LACM ability via Torpedo tubes?)

The 210 (Ula class) is an operating submarine. The diagram depicts a new possibility in a future 210mod - that is a 1.5(?) meter horizontal multi-purpose lock (HMPL) in the torpedo section. This HMPL feature may become part of other new build subs or be retrofitted into existing subs. (Diagram courtesy TKMS website for 210mod). Also see the 1.5 meter "MULTIMISSIONPORTAL" page 15 on plans for Sweden's future A26 submarine.


So the 218s 5 meter plug may enable or be ready for many things including a much larger torpedo room for fitting the HMPL. This enables easier, more rapid operations for swim out divers/special forces, diver delivery vehicle(s), large diameter LDUUV(s), or rapid fire of 6 cruise missiles (+ 6 more in the 6 torpedo tubes).

The 5 meter plug may also or alternatively:
- provide room in the 218's mid-section behind the sail for diver/special forces accommodation and diver wet-dry chamber
- and/or vertical multi-purpose lock or provision for a future one OR
- extra room for a variety of purposes (eg. extra diesel fuel, extra batteries, extra AIP capacity, extra crew accommodation for longer missions).

SPECIFICATIONS

The first Type 218SG submarine will be completed in 2020. To enter service two years later, after passing through the sea acceptance tests and final test, as well as the completion of the training program for the crew. Both units should be in line [commissioned by?] 2025.


Length -70 meters
Width/beam -6.3 meters
Draught - unknown (but perhaps 6.1 meters)
Displacement (surfaced) - approximately 2,000 tons (submerged displacement unknown - but based on Dolphin 2 figures the 218 submerged displacement may be 2,400 tons)
Crew/complement -28 officers and sailors
Diesel Engines - unknown (although likely an MTU product)
Electric motors - unknown (although likelySiemens Permasyn)
Batteries – unknown (lead acid or Li-ion)
Speed and range - unknown.

It has been previously reported the combat system is being developed by Singapore Technologies (ST) Electronics and Bremen, Germany based Atlas Elektroniks.
PEM fuel cellAIP
Pressure hull steel - unknown (may be the same non-magnetic steel used in the 212).

FURTHER COMMENT
Note that TKMS and Singapore do not compare the 218 to the Dolphin 2. This may be due to the greater secrecy involving the Dolphin 2 which is widely seen as designed for nuclear cruise missile delivery from its 650mm tubes. Singapore via the 218 similarity would not want to associate itself with such Dolphin 2 capabilities.
A half century of close Israel-Singapore military relations remains obscure. Both Israel and Singapore are surrounded by much larger, majority Muslim countries. Both Israel and Singapore have higher GDPs per capita than almost all of their neighbours. This has encouraged both countries to buy or build higher quality weapons than their neighbours including buying the most advanced conventional submarines available.The 218 may have a reinforced bottom like the Dolphin 2's.This would allow the 218 to sit on the seafloor (important for the 218 in/around Malacca and Singapore Straits).

The 218s will replace the 2 remainingChallenger classsubmarines (RSS Conqueror and RSS Chieftain). Singapore also has twoArcher classsubmarines which will continue to operate until they to will likely be replaced by 2 more 218s.

Note that what became TKMS previously built another large design - 2 x 2,000 ton TR-1700s for Argentina in the 1980s (after the Falklands War).

BACKGOUND - Singapore Strait and Malacca Strait

The Singapore Strait is the most immediately important body of water for Singapore in military and economic terms. This Strait is the deepwater approach for warships, cargo ships and tankers to the port of Singapore. The Singapore Strait is 16 km wide and lies between Singapore Island (north) and the Riau Islands (south) which are part of Indonesia.

It includes Johore Strait (around 12 meters deep max - unnavigable by submarine), Keppel Harbour, and many small islands. The Singapore Strait is a channel extending for 105 km between the Strait of Malacca (west) and the South China Sea (east).

The southern part of the Malacca Strait closest to Singapore rarely exceeds 37 meters deep. The Malacca Strait is up there with the Strait of Hormuz, Suez and Panama canals as being the world's most impotant narrow waterway.

The islands and undersea rocks on the approaches (like the Singapore Strait) to the Malacca Strait provide many places for experienced submarine captains to hide on the shallow seafloor. The shallows are also dangerous if subs collide with rocks and the seafloor and due to the increased danger from ASW platforms. Air independent propulsion (AIP), that Singpore has heavily invested in, is a major advantage. (Map courtesy welt-atlas).




Singapore’s Type-218SG – Forerunner of a new Submarine Class?

Singapore is likely to expand the missions and operational capabilities of its submarine force in the next decade, fielding large ocean going submarines with mission endurance of weeks, even months in the next decade. Sofar the island state operated much smaller subs, designed for operations in shallow waters and littorals closer to home. The Defense ministry of Singapore announced this week it has ordered two new ‘Type 218SG’ submarines from the German-based ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).


The 218SG is a customized design from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. TKMS did not provide much detail about the specification of the ‘Type 218’ submarine, hitherto an unknown designation, although the company mentioned the submarines would be fitted out with ‘air independent propulsion’ (AIP) from the baseline (unlike the Archers, that had to be cut apart to ‘plug in’ the AIP). The new submarine will be customized to address specific requirements of the Singapore Navy. Among those systems will be a comprehensive combat system provided by Atlas Elektronik GmbH, to be co-developed and adapted to the customer requirements by Singapore based ST Electronics.


RSS Chiftain is one of four Swedish built submarines currently operated by the Singapore navy. Photo: BQ-T via Flickr.
German industry experts commenting about the deal said the project would cost about one billion Euros and is expected to take six years to complete. The first submarine will be delivered to the Singapore Navy in 2020.

Singapore is already operating two Archer Class submarines modified by the Swedish Kockums shipyard to meet the requirements of the Singapore Navy. Kockums, now a subsidiary of TKMS, built both Archer and Challenger, both designed for littoral, shallow sea operations.

The two Archer class submarines were bought from Swedish navy surplus in 2009. They were thoroughly modernized, fitted with Stirling Air Independent Propulsion engine and entered service with the Singapore navy this year. The diesel-electric powered Challenger Class vessels were built in 1967-8, and entered service with the Singapore Navy in 2001. With the introduction of new models they will be progressively retired from service. Singapore planned to buy four Archer Class submarines; it is yet unclear whether Singapore will exercise this option parallel to the acquisition of the new Type-218SGs.

What is Type 218SG?
At the recent IMDEX naval expo in Singapore TKMS submarine branch Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) displayed models of its newly released Type 216 ‘concept submarine’. It is likely that the Singaporean Type 218SG will be a derivative based on this new class. In the past HDW extended the capacity of former models – for example, the Type 209 grew over the years from the basic 1000 tons submerged displacement to 1500, 1700, 1900 and even 2,300 tons (submerged displacement of the Type 800 Dolphin class).

Singapore’s Type-218SG – Forerunner of a new Submarine Class? | Defense Update: