Подводные лодки типа «Скорпен»: конструкция, утечки и международные контракты

Class of submarine

The Scorpène class submarines are a class of diesel electric attack submarines jointly developed by the French Naval Group (formerly the DCNS) and the Spanish company Navantia. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air independent propulsion (AIP). It is now marketed as the Scorpène 2000.

The French Module d'Energie Sous Marine Autonome (MESMA) system is being offered by the French shipyard Naval Group for the Scorpène class submarines. It is essentially a modified version of their nuclear propulsion system with heat being generated by ethanol and oxygen. The combustion of the ethanol and stored oxygen, at a pressure of , generates steam which powers a conventional turbine power plant. This pressure firing allows exhaust carbon dioxide to be expelled overboard at any depth without an exhaust compressor. Each MESMA system costs around US$50–60 million. As installed on the Scorpènes, it requires adding a new , 305 tonne hull section to the submarines, and enables a submarine to operate for more than 21 days under water depending on speed. Naval Group is also developing second generation hydrogen fuel cell AIP modules for future Scorpène models.

In mid August 2016, The Australian newspaper published documents containing old technical information about the Scorpène submarines and reported that design details of the Scorpène class submarine and other ships had been leaked. The leaked information spreads over 22,400 pages and includes detailed information about the submarine's combat and stealth capabilities. The leak also included information about noise levels, submarine frequencies and more. Despite all the information leaks, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba was quoted as saying that the leaks were being viewed "very seriously", but were "not a matter of much worry". The report also suggested that an ex French Navy officer working as a sub contractor for Naval Group may have been the source of the leak, and that the leaked data may have been written in France in 2011. However, on 30 August 2016, a court in New South Wales temporarily banned The Australian from releasing any more confidential data on the Indian Scorpène class submarines. Naval Group filed a complaint against the newspaper with the Supreme Court of the State of New South Wales in Australia. The Australian court ruled in favour of Naval Group on 29 August and confirmed its decision on 1 September.

The Chilean Navy ordered two Scorpène class boats, which replaced two s retired by the Chilean Navy. The Chilean Scorpène class Chilean submarine O'Higgins and Chilean submarine Carrera were completed in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

In 2002, Malaysia ordered two Scorpène class boats worth €1.04 billion (about RM4.78 billion). Both boats KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Abdul Razak commissioned by Royal Malaysian Navy in 2009.

In 2005, India chose the Scorpène design; purchasing six submarines for US$3 billion (US$500 million per boat). Under a technology transfer agreement, the state owned Mazagon Docks in Mumbai was to manufacture the submarines, and deliver them between 2012 and 2016, however the project is running six years behind schedule. Construction started on 23 May 2009. stirring up a controversy about the impact to India's ambitions of fielding a blue water navy. Naval Group answered that those documents were not crucial. After extensive sea trials, Kalvari was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 14 December 2017.

In 2009, Brazil purchased four enlarged Scorpènes for US$10 billion with a technology transfer agreement and a second agreement to develop a French/Brazilian nuclear powered submarine. The Brazilian submarine class was given the designation Riachuelo class. The hull of the first S BR (S40) was laid down at Cherbourg on 27 May 2010 and is to be jumboized at the Brazilian Navy Shipyard in Sepetiba in late 2012. The latter three submarines will be built there entirely, and are planned to be commissioned in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The nuclear powered submarine Brazilian submarine Álvaro Alberto is under construction since 2018, with scheduled launch for 2027. The first submarine Riachuelo was launched on 14 December 2018, and began sea trials in September 2019. All the submarines are built by the Brazilian defence company Itaguaí Construções Navais.

as of 2021, Indonesia is still considering purchasing a Riachuelo class submarine, the Scorpène variant constructed for Brazil. Talks for such a purchase started as early as 2016. On 7 June 2021, Indonesia signed a letter of intent to buy six Scorpène class submarines and weapons packages from France. On 10 February 2022, the Indonesian Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto and his French counterpart Florence Parly witness the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kaharuddin Djenod, CEO of PT. PAL and Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group on cooperation in research and development between PT. PAL and Naval Group regarding the plan to purchase Six Scorpène submarines with AIP (Air independent Propulsion) along with weapons and spare parts as well as training. In October 2023, Naval Group renewed its proposal by offering the latest variant called ‘Scorpene Evolved’ equipped with a complete Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) setup, enabling it to operate for 80 days without resurfacing and travel over 8,000 nautical miles. Scorpene Evolved boasts a reduced acoustic signature and can sustain its maximum speed for extended periods, distinguishing it from the previous variants. Approximately one third of the total contract value, estimated at about $2.1 billion, will return to Indonesia through offsets and other collaboration initiatives. The offer scheme includes a whole local production. On April 2024, Naval Group confirmed that the Indonesian has signed the contract order for two Scorpene Evolved submarines, which will be built in Indonesia.

In December 2019, Secretary of National Defense of Philippines Delfin Lorenzana announced that the Scorpène class submarine of France fits the requirements of the Philippine Navy. Lorenzana visited a Scorpène class submarine when he visited France. On 18 December 2019, Lorenzana said that the Philippines is one step closer to acquiring the French submarine after signing an agreement with France sought to enhance both country's maritime defense. In January 2020, Philippine and French Navy conducted an expert exchange on a submarine to enhance members in the submarine's information about the submarine proper. In July 2023, Naval Group presented its submarine package that includes a submarine base in Subic's Agila Shipyard and training of personnel, aside from getting the project funded by a long term loan arrangement. The submarines are likely patterned from Brazil's Riachuelo class variant.

Naval Group participate in the “Orka” submarine procurement programme pursued by the Polish Navy.

as of 2022, Romania is considering purchasing two Scorpène class submarines from the French.

In 2003, the Spanish government ordered four Scorpène AIP submarines worth €1,756 million. However, the Spanish Navy cancelled the order, and ordered four submarines, instead. This has caused conflicts and controversies between Naval Group and Navantia, as the latter is still involved in the construction of the submarines sold to India, Malaysia, and Chile, while the S 80 is offered on the export market. As an answer to the competition from the S 80, Naval Group designed its own enhanced version of the Scorpène called the , but little is known about this design and the Scorpène is still offered by France on the export market. The dispute was settled when Navantia gave up export rights on the Scorpène class, leaving Naval Group with sole responsibility for the project.

On 1 March 2011, the Naval Shipyard Gdynia of Poland and Naval Group offered a license to build a yet undisclosed number of modified Scorpène class boats. The Scorpène design is competing with that of the German Type 214 submarine.

In December 2016, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence announced that Norway would sign a contract for four new submarines before the end of 2019. These would either be Scorpène vessels from Naval Group or German U boats from ThyssenKrupp. Norway would also be looking into possible cooperation on maintenance and construction with other potential buyers of the same submarines, such as Poland or the Netherlands. In February 2017, the Norwegian Government announced that it intended to procure its new submarines from the German manufacturer, ThyssenKrupp. Norway and Germany will buy submarines together to mutualize expenses. In practice the tender was cancelled and exclusive government to government negotiations were initiated.

Name Pennant no. Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport Chilean submarine O'Higgins SS 23 18 November 1999 1 November 2003 8 September 2005 Talcahuano Chilean submarine Carrera SS 22 November 2000 24 November 2004 20 July 2006 Talcahuano KD Tunku Abdul Rahman 25 April 2004 23 October 2007 January 2009 Sepanggar KD Tun Abdul Razak 25 April 2005 October 2008 December 2009 Sepanggar S 21 1 April 2009 6 April 2015 14 December 2017 Vishakhapatnam / Mumbai S 22 October 2011 12 January 2017 28 September 2019 Vishakhapatnam / Mumbai S 23 December 2012 31 January 2018 10 March 2021 Vishakhapatnam / Mumbai S 24 6 May 2019 25 November 2021 Vishakhapatnam / Mumbai 23 January 2023 Vishakhapatnam / Mumbai Vishakhapatnam / Mumbai Brazilian submarine Riachuelo S40 27 May 2010 1 September 2022 Madeira Island, Itaguaí Brazilian submarine Humaitá S41 9 September 2013 11 December 2020 12 January 2024 Madeira Island, Itaguaí Brazilian submarine Tonelero S42 13 January 2015 27 March 2024 TBD Madeira Island, Itaguaí Angostura S43 2018 December 2022 (expected) TBD Madeira Island, Itaguaí

See .