Egypt receives first German-built submarine

The Egyptian Navy today officially received its first Type-209/1400 submarine from Germany, government sources revealed.

The Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson said today that the submarine, named S41, was manufactured by the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Company in the northern German coastal city of Kiel.

During a ceremony in Kiel city yesterday, the Commander of the Egyptian Navy Lieutenant General Osama Mounir hoisted the Egyptian flag on the submarine signalling its beginning of service at the Egyptian military forces.

In his speech at the inauguration, Mounir stated that the new submarine is a “great technological addition” to Egypt’s navy and will further its capability to bolster Egyptian national security.

Egypt Independent reported that this event comes within a deal made between the two nations for four submarines to help protect the Egyptian national security and its economic interests. Egypt initially ordered two Type-209/1400mod submarines in 2011 and later ordered two more in 2014.

According to the Germany’s Deutsche-Presse Agentur (DPA) news agency, the contract for the first two ships was worth around €900 million, while the other two submarines’ contract is estimated at well over €500 million.

The diesel-electric Type 209 submarine is 211 feet long, has a submerged speed of 22.5 knots and a submerged range of 400 nautical miles at a speed of 4 knots. The 64-meters long submarine is capable of firing missiles against both land and naval targets.

The second HDW 209/1400 submarine was also officially handed over to the Egyptian navy.

Egyptian technical teams travelled to Germany earlier for training on operating the new submarines.

 In a statement, German Ambassador to Egypt Julius Georg Luy said that both Berlin and Cairo have common interests in confronting issues of regional stability and terrorism.