Argentina has a history of operating German-built Type 209 submarines, including the ARA Salta and ARA San Luis, acquired in the 1970s.
During the 1982 Falklands War, San Luis patrolled and launched torpedo attacks against British warships but scored no hits. Despite technical faults, it evaded British anti-submarine forces and remained in service until 1997.
Admiral Dalle Nogare informed the Rotary Club the “final decision will ultimately be a geopolitical one, based on interests and, above all, financing” and expected the boats to be delivered six years after the contract is signed.
France’s Naval Group and Germany’s TKMS are central to their respective nations’ defence industries, exporting submarines and other hardware worldwide. TKMS’s British subsidiary, Atlas UK, provides submersible countermeasures to the Royal Navy.
