Turkish state-owned defense company Aselsan has completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) of the Zargana Torpedo Countermeasure System for the Pakistan Navy’s Agosta 90B-class submarines mid-life upgrade (MLU) project. With the purchase, Pakistan becomes the second country after Indonesia to use the Zargana, which is the first and only system developed in Turkey and superior to its counterparts worldwide. The FAT was also carried out within the scope of the integration of Zargana with Indonesian Navy submarines. The Zargana Anti-Torpedo Countermeasure System for submarines was developed by the defense company for foreign purchasers as a different version of the domestic system.
The Zargana ensures submarine survivability against torpedo attacks by quick reaction capabilities, provided with the operator-controlled autonomous operation and outboard launchers. The Zargana system uses ZOKA Acoustic jammers and decoys. Acoustic jammer is a broadband high power acoustic noise generator that covers all operating frequency bands of both classical and modern acoustic homing torpedoes operating in passive, active, or combined homing modes. Acoustic decoys are aimed to deceive incoming torpedos by emulating the dynamic and acoustic behaviors of the submarine. The Zargana System comprises; Quick reaction capability, adaptable launching cell configuration as per user requirements up to 24 launching cells, single and salvo launching capabilities, high level of redundancy, bubble-free launching.
The modernization project of AGOSTA 90B class submarines belonging to Pakistan Naval Forces Command is carried out by STM as the main contractor. The agreement was signed between the Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production and our company in Rawalpindi/Pakistan on June 22, 2016. The scope of modernization is the replacement of the Fire Control System, Sonar Suite, Electronic Warfare System, Radar and Periscope System (Navigation and Assault). Integration design, preparation of related documents, integration activities, tests, and experiences along with Integrated Logistics Support services will be provided by STM as the main contractor. Within the framework of the project, the systems of Turkish companies such as HAVELSAN and ASELSAN are also exported indirectly during the modernization process.
The Agosta-class submarine is a class of diesel-electric fast-attack submarine developed and constructed by the French DCNS in the 1970s to succeed the Daphné-class submarines. The submarines have served in the French Navy as well as exported to the navies of Spain and Pakistan. It is also used by Royal Malaysian Navy for training purposes. The Agosta-90B-class submarine is an improved version with modern systems, a 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 (AIP) system. It is capable of carrying a combined load of up to 16 torpedoes, SM39 Exocet, and seaborne nuclear cruise missiles. In 2000, France gave Pakistan the license to offer commercial production of the submarines to potential customers.
