German-made submarine sails to join Egyptian navy – spokesperson

A high-speed attack submarine Egypt has bought from Germany started sailing to Egypt on Tuesday to join the Egyptian navy, Egypt’s military spokesperson said in a statement.

Egypt’s naval forces announced they had officially received the Type 209/1400 submarine from Germany last week, the third of a total of four such submarines the country had agreed to purchase, Ahram Online reported.

Egypt received the first submarine, S41, in December 2016, and the second, S42, in August 2017.

The new S-43 submarine is characterised by a sailing range of up to 20,000 km and a high sailing speed, as well as the ability to launch torpedoes and surface missiles, spokesperson Colonel Tamer El-Refaie said.

The S-43 submarine is equipped with the latest combat, navigation, communications and electronic warfare systems, enabling it to “secure the Egyptian regional and economic waters and enhance national security,” the statement said.

The submarine will conduct a number of joint naval exercises with naval forces from a number of countries during its journey to Egypt, the statement added

It is the latest addition to the Egyptian navy as part of a broader ambitious plan to develop and reinforce the Egyptian armed forces.