Islamabad: The Pakistan Navy is likely to acquire seven ‘conventional’ submarines and is in discussions with China and France for finalising the deal.
According to sources, negotiations are also on with Germany to purchase three U-214 type submarines.
Sources within the Pakistan Navy said that a high-level naval delegation would be visiting France next week to finalise the deal with French DCN Company for Marline submarines.
Islamabad is deeply interested in acquiring four Chinese Yuan and Song Class and three French Marlin class latest diesel electric conventional submarines in a bid to meet the challenge from the rapidly expanding Indian Navy, The Dawn quoted sources, as saying.
It is pertinent to mention here that a German company-HDW had drawn up technical specifications for three U-214 submarines, and a billion dollar contract was almost finalised, but the deal could not materialise due to some unknown reasons.
ANI
First Published: Friday, March 26, 2010, 14:57