According to an article published by the Argentine newspaper 'Al Cóndor' on October 17, Marcelo Dalla Nogare, the chairman of the Joint Staff of the Argentine Armed Forces, confirmed during an event in Buenos Aires that Germany and France would provide a combined funding of $3.355 billion to help the Argentine Navy purchase three submarines.
Previously, Juan Carlos Romay, the Argentine Navy commander, submitted an analysis report to the Ministry of Defense. He plans to purchase conventional-powered submarines of the Tipex class from France in installments, and submarines of the Type 209 class from Germany. It is estimated that it will take 6 years for the first submarine to be delivered.
The Argentine Ministry of Defense has not yet determined the specific procurement plan, but Nogarre insists: “No matter which option we choose, they are among the best submarines in the world today.”
Both Nogaray and Romay emphasized that the purchase of submarines is not targeted at any specific country. After the Argentine Navy's submarine 'San Juan' sank in Patagonia waters in November 2017, the Argentine military had to take action to restore the navy's operational capabilities.
However, according to the Horn of Africa newspaper, due to the disputed sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands (referred to as Falkland Islands by Britain), Argentine President Mille has become more assertive in its policies regarding resources around the islands. The plan to acquire submarines has attracted attention from Britain, and the British military is evaluating the potential implications of Argentina’s military purchases.
Argentina has a long coastline of over 4700 kilometers, and the construction of a strong navy is crucial for Argentina's maritime security. After the Falklands War in 1982, Argentina's naval forces were severely weakened. After the sinking of the submarine "San Juan," the Argentine Navy now has only two submarines purchased in the last century, the "San Cristobal" and the "Sarata," both of which are currently not in active service.
