The ''Agosta''-class submarine is a

class Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...

of diesel-electric

attack submarine An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants, and merchant vessels. In the Soviet Navy, Soviet and Russian Navy, Russian navies ...

developed and constructed by the French DCNS in the 1970s to succeed the submarines. The submarines have served in the

French Navy The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the Navy, maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of History of France, France. It is among the largest and most powerful List of navies, naval forces i ...

as well as exported to the navies of

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

and

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. It also used by

Royal Malaysian Navy The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN, ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is the naval arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMN is the main agency responsible for the country's maritime surveillance and defence operations. RMN's area of operation consists of 603,2 ...

for the training purpose. They were replaced in French service by the nuclear attack submarines but are still in active service with the navies of

and

. The French Navy grouped this model of submarine in their most capable class as an ''océanique'', meaning "ocean-going." The ''Agosta'' class is named for its lead unit, , which in turn was named for the Battle of Augusta () of 22 April 1676.

Ships

French Navy

built by Arsenal de Cherbourg * ''Agosta'' (S 620) – Completed 1977 – Decommissioned 1997 * ''Bévéziers'' (S 621) – Completed 1977 – Decommissioned 1998 * ''La Praya'' (S 622) – Completed 1978 – Decommissioned 2000 * (S 623) – Completed 1978 – Decommissioned 2001 (transferred to

Spanish Navy

built by Cartagena dockyard * ''Galerna'' (S 71) – Completed 1983 – In service * '' Siroco'' (S 72) – Completed 1983 – Decommissioned 2012 * ''Mistral'' (S 73) – Completed 1985 – Decommissioned 2020 * (S 74) – Completed 1985 – Decommissioned 2024

Pakistan Navy

* PNS/M ''Hashmat'' (S135) – completed in 1979, originally named ''Astrant'' * PNS/M ''Hurmat'' (S136) – completed in 1980, originally named ''Adventurous'' On 10 September 1974,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

announced to expand its submarine arm by entering in defence talks with

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

to acquire the ''Agosta-70''-class submarines.

South African Prime Minister The prime minister of South Africa ( was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984. History of the office The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the Union of South Africa was formed. He was appointed ...

P. W. Botha Pieter Willem Botha, ( , ; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a South African politician who served as the last Prime Minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and as the first executive State President of South Africa from 1984 until ...

engaged in discussion with acquiring two ''Agosta-70''-class submarines with

French President The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country, the pos ...

Valéry d'Estaing, and had Capt. L. J. Woodburne as the project-manager of acquisition of ''Agosta-70'' program in

South African Navy The South African Navy (SA Navy) is the naval warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force. The Navy is primarily engaged in maintaining a conventional military deterrent, participating in counter-piracy operations, fishery prote ...

. Dubigeon-Normandie, the French contractor, built two Agosta-70 class submarine. However,

denied to order of delivery to

following the implementation of Resolution 418 (an arms embargo) by the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

. The Agosta-70A class submarines were eventually offered to Pakistan, which Pakistan acquired for its military in 1978 and commissioned in Pakistan Navy in 1979. In Pakistan Navy, there are known as Hashmat Class. In 1983–1985, the class of submarines were deployed in

Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea () is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran, on the north by Pakistan, on the east by India, and ...

to deter the actions of the larger Indian Navy in seaborne theatre. As part of the Cold War operation, they were deployed in the Arabian Sea and later embarked on being deployed on long-range mission to test depth and submerged endurance in

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

Variants

The Agosta-90B-class submarines is an improved version with modern systems, better battery with longer endurance, deeper diving capability, lower acoustic cavitation and better automatic control (reducing crew from 54 to 36). It can be equipped with the MESMA

air-independent propulsion Air-independent propulsion (AIP), or air-independent power, is any marine propulsion technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (by surfacing or using a snorkel). AIP can augment or replace th ...

(AIP) system. It is capable of carrying a combined load up to 16 torpedoes, SM39 Exocet, and seaborne nuclear cruise missiles. The submarines were built through the

technology transfer Technology transfer (TT), also called transfer of technology (TOT), is the process of transferring (disseminating) technology from the person or organization that owns or holds it to another person or organization, in an attempt to transform invent ...

by France to Pakistan that resulted in complicated and lengthy negotiations between the Benazir Bhutto government and the Mitterrand administration in 1992, and signed with the Chirac administration in 1992. The ''Agosta–90B''s were chosen over the British ''Upholder''/''Victoria'' class and the project was initially aimed at $520 million but the programme of technology transfer cost nearly $950 million, for which France first provided loans that were paid in five to six years. In 2000, France gave Pakistan the licence to offer commercial production of the submarines to potential customers. The SM39 was test-fired from a ''Khalid''-class submarine in 2001. * PNS/M ''Khalid'' (S137) – built in France by DCN Cherbourg, completed in 1999 * PNS/M ''Saad '' (S138) – assembled in Pakistan with French assistance, completed in 2002 * PNS/M ''Hamza'' (S139) – built in Pakistan with French assistance, commissioned 14 August 2006 In March 2018, DCNS, the original builder lost a bidding competition to the Turkish firm STM, for mid-life upgrades to the 3 class subs. The upgrades will replace "the submarine’s entire sonar suite, periscope systems, command and control system, radar and electronic support systems. HAVELSAN- urkey’s state-controlled military software companyand ASELSAN urkish defense contractormade systems will also be exported as part of the project.” As well as install a "SharpEye low probability-of-intercept (LPI) radar system aboard" and "make modifications on the pressure hull, the most critical structure in a submarine, by carrying out system-to-system and platform-to-system integrations for various systems, to be provided by local and foreign companies.”

References

External links

Naval Technology
page on Agosta 90B {{Ship classes of the Spanish Navy Submarine classes A Ship classes of the French Navy