*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) ANKARA, Turkey - July 4, 2009: The Turkish government sealed July 2 a $3.5 billion contract with a German consortium for the co-production of six U-214-class submarines. 
The Turkish Navy had commenced negotiations with HDW for the co-production of six Type 214 class air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines. According Undersecretariat for Defence Industries of the Turkish Government these submarines will be "co-produced" with "maximum local content at Gölcük Naval Shipyard" in Kocaeli, Turkey.
On the 2nd of July 2009, HDW and the Turkish Ministry of Defence entered into an agreement for the co-production of 6 platforms. The agreement was the largest defence acquisition project in Turkey at the time after the firm order for 116 F-36 fighters at a cost of in excess of $10 billion. Ankara hopes that it's advanced, locally produced and highly modified Type 214 submarines will enter into service by 2015. Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul has also stated that "Turkish industrial participation in the project would be worth around 80% of the total value of the deal".
As the Turkish Type 214 will have a significant amount of Turkish indigenous systems on board, this variant of the Type 214 will be known as the Type 214TN (Turkish Navy). HDW will preassemble structural and mechanical parts of the submarine in Germany, or classified elements such as the fuel cells and propulsion system and will then ship them to Turkey. All electronic and weapon systems (including the C4I system) will be of Turkish design and production.
Last summer, Turkey's Navy had moved to stick to its German traditions, with the NATO ally selecting a consortium led by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) over French and Spanish rivals for a 2.5 billion euro contract for joint production of six modern U-214-class submarines. The consortium's other members are TKMS and MFI.
A high-profile event was held in Ankara for the signing ceremony, including Thomas Kossendey, German federal deputy defense minister; Ambassador to Ankara Eckart Kuntz; the Federal Navy commander, Vice Adm. Wolfgang Nolting; Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul; chief procurement officer Murad Bayar; and the Turkish Navy commander, Adm. Metin Atac.
The Kiel-based HDW, a Thyssen Krupp unit, had come first in an international competition for the Turkish submarine contract, but disputes over price and local content recently marred contract negotiations. In recent months, Ankara and HDW were negotiating how to integrate certain Turkish systems into the submarines, and the potential effect of that on price.
Under the Turkish modern submarine program, the non-nuclear vessels will be built at the military-owned Golcuk Shipyard. The submarine program will form Turkey's largest defense modernization project after a planned $11 billion deal to buy 100 next generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force.
Ankara hopes the new U-214 submarines would enter service in 2015. This is two years later than the original schedule drawn up when the program was launched a few years ago.
Defense officials said that Turkey's local defense industry would make a "considerably high contribution" to the submarine program and that the indigenous industry would obtain "good know-how."
The Turkish Navy had commenced negotiations with HDW for the co-production of six Type 214 class air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines. According Undersecretariat for Defence Industries of the Turkish Government these submarines will be "co-produced" with "maximum local content at Gölcük Naval Shipyard" in Kocaeli, Turkey.
On the 2nd of July 2009, HDW and the Turkish Ministry of Defence entered into an agreement for the co-production of 6 platforms. The agreement was the largest defence acquisition project in Turkey at the time after the firm order for 116 F-36 fighters at a cost of in excess of $10 billion. Ankara hopes that it's advanced, locally produced and highly modified Type 214 submarines will enter into service by 2015. Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul has also stated that "Turkish industrial participation in the project would be worth around 80% of the total value of the deal".
As the Turkish Type 214 will have a significant amount of Turkish indigenous systems on board, this variant of the Type 214 will be known as the Type 214TN (Turkish Navy). HDW will preassemble structural and mechanical parts of the submarine in Germany, or classified elements such as the fuel cells and propulsion system and will then ship them to Turkey. All electronic and weapon systems (including the C4I system) will be of Turkish design and production.
Last summer, Turkey's Navy had moved to stick to its German traditions, with the NATO ally selecting a consortium led by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) over French and Spanish rivals for a 2.5 billion euro contract for joint production of six modern U-214-class submarines. The consortium's other members are TKMS and MFI.
A high-profile event was held in Ankara for the signing ceremony, including Thomas Kossendey, German federal deputy defense minister; Ambassador to Ankara Eckart Kuntz; the Federal Navy commander, Vice Adm. Wolfgang Nolting; Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul; chief procurement officer Murad Bayar; and the Turkish Navy commander, Adm. Metin Atac.
The Kiel-based HDW, a Thyssen Krupp unit, had come first in an international competition for the Turkish submarine contract, but disputes over price and local content recently marred contract negotiations. In recent months, Ankara and HDW were negotiating how to integrate certain Turkish systems into the submarines, and the potential effect of that on price.
Under the Turkish modern submarine program, the non-nuclear vessels will be built at the military-owned Golcuk Shipyard. The submarine program will form Turkey's largest defense modernization project after a planned $11 billion deal to buy 100 next generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force.
Ankara hopes the new U-214 submarines would enter service in 2015. This is two years later than the original schedule drawn up when the program was launched a few years ago.
Defense officials said that Turkey's local defense industry would make a "considerably high contribution" to the submarine program and that the indigenous industry would obtain "good know-how."
