STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.S., one of the leading companies in the Turkish defence sector, has completed another critical milestone in its successful export projects. The second submarine, PNS/M KHALID (S-137), was delivered to Pakistan Naval Forces Command at a ceremony held, marking the latest step in the project to modernize three AGOSTA 90B class submarines. The first Agosta 90B Class Submarine PNS/M HAMZA (S-139), modernized by STM for the Pakistan Navy, participated in the SEASPARK-2022 Tactical Exercise, during which it successfully fired a torpedo and sank a decommissioned frigate.
Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, speaking about the project, said: “As we continue our journey on which we set out for the sake of our country’s defence, we are also transferring our engineering experience and technologies to friendly and brotherly countries. The Pakistan Navy Agosta 90B Class Submarine Modernization Project is one of the most important examples of STM’s national and international competency in submarine production and modernization. Within the scope of the AGOSTA Modernization project, which stands out as Türkiye’s first submarine modernization engineering export project involving strategic and high-tech systems, we have successfully equipped the second submarine with modern systems after having delivered the first to the customer in 2021.
The submarines’ sonar suites, periscopes, command and control systems, naval data distribution systems, converters, steering control systems, chilled water systems, and radar & electronic support systems are all being replaced. Systems produced by numerous indigenous and national companies, including ASELSAN and HAVELSAN, are also being exported within the scope of the Project. All hull-related structural modifications, materials, and workmanship activities carried out on the submarines under the modernization project have been certified by the international classification society DNV (Dat Norske Veritas).
The Agosta-class submarine is a class of diesel-electric fast-attack submarine developed and constructed by the French DCNS (now Naval Group) 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. 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 (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 by France to Pakistan
