The ''Agosta''-class submarine is a

class Class 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 differentl ...

of diesel-electric

fast-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 and Russian navies they were and are called "m ...

developed and constructed by the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

DCNS in the 1970s to succeed the submarines. The submarines have served in the

French Navy The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...

as well as exported to the navies of

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. It also used by

Royal Malaysian Navy The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN, ms, Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia; TLDM; Jawi: ) is the naval arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMN is the main agency responsible for the country's maritime surveillance and defense operations. RMN's area of o ...

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 The Battle of Augusta, also known as the Battle of Agosta and the Battle of Etna, took place on 22 April 1676 during the Franco-Dutch War and was fought between a French fleet of 29 men-of-war, five frigates and eight fireships under Abraham Du ...

(french: Agosta) 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 – in service

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 southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

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

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

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

South African Prime Minister The prime minister of South Africa ( af, Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) 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 Sout ...

P. W. Botha engaged in discussion with acquiring two ''Agosta-70''-class submarines with French President 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 prot ...

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

denied to order of delivery to

following the implementation of

Resolution 418 United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, adopted unanimously on 4 November 1977, imposed a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa. This resolution differed from the earlier Resolution 282, which was only voluntary. The embargo was ...

(an arms embargo) by the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

. In 1983–1985, the class of submarines were deployed in

Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea ( ar, اَلْبَحرْ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Bahr al-ˁArabī) is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf of Oman, on the west by the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel ...

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 ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

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 the ...

(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 Benazir ( ur, بينظير) may refer to a first name for a girl. Notable people with the name include: * Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007), Pakistani politician * Benazir Charles (born 1992), Dutch model and beauty queen * Benazir Hussein (born 1972), ...

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 costed $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 contractor Urkish may mean: * Urkers dialect, the dialect spoken in Urk in the Netherlands *Urkesh Urkesh or Urkish ( Akkadian: 𒌨𒆧𒆠 UR.KIŠKI, 𒌨𒋙𒀭𒄲𒆠 UR.KEŠ3KI; modern Tell Mozan; ar, تل موزان) is a tell, or settlement mound ...

made 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 {{Agosta class submarines Submarine classes A Ship classes of the French Navy