In 2001, the US offered Taiwan a cheaper alternative to the current plan to purchase eight new diesel-electric submarines. Last year, the US Department of Defense also pitched the option of buying refurbished submarines from a third country, but the offer was rejected by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense.
Also last year, the US approached Italy to purchase used SSK (Type 1081) Sauro-class diesel-electric attack submarines. The Italian Ministry of Defense tentatively agreed but Taiwan rejected the offer, insisting on new platforms. The original plan called for the US to purchase four submarines, then refurbish and resell them to Taiwan.
Four additional submarines would be made available as Italy decommissioned them. Once refurbished, the Italian submarines would be good for 15 years, and the deal included an extension program, a US defense source has said.
With dramatic political opposition to the budget, many in the US are hoping Taiwan reconsiders this option. The option was put forth in light of the massive cost and political opposition to building new submarines. First, the eight new submarines alone are estimated to cost between NT$237 billion to NT$372.5 billion (US$7 billion to US$11 billion) with delivery in 2013. In contrast, eight used submarines would be sold at an estimated cost of NT$67.7 billion (US$2 billion) with delivery beginning in 2006-2007.
Taiwan's refusal to consider an option which is cheaper and gives it defense capability sooner rather than later demonstrates the lack of creative thinking on this issue. The result is an extraordinarily expensive solution that detracts from other pressing needs, US sources say.
Italy has already decommissioned one Sauro-class submarine, the S-518 Nazario Sauro, and is preparing to decommission three more: the S-519 Carlo Fecia Di Cossato, the S-520 Leonardo Da Vinci and the S-521 Guglielmo Marconi. Four additional submarines -- making up the Salvatore Pelosi-class and Primo Longobardo-class -- are expected to be decommissioned within the next 10 years. The Pelosi-class are enlarged Sauros armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Longobardos-class subs are enlarged Pelosis, with improved weapons storage, sensors and range.
The Sauro-class submarines have a displacement of 1,479 tonnes surfaced and 1,657 tonnes dived; are 63.9m long, with a beam of 6.8m, draught of 5.7m. They also have a maximum speed of 11 knots surfaced, 19 knots dived, with a range of 17,702km. Armament includes six 533mm bow tubes.
Once refurbished with the latest weapons and equipment by a US defense contractor, they would be as good as anything China currently has in its docks.
The source said that the third-country option is not limited to Italy. Other countries, including India and Russia, were suggested as options.
Opponents to the procurement of refurbished submarines cite the logistical requirements involved in maintaining older submarines. However, the defense source notes that Taiwan has a proven ability to maintain and build submarines.
The best examples are Taiwan's two World War II-era Guppy-class, and the two Hai-lung (Sea Dragon)-class (originally Zwaardvis-class) submarines. The Guppys are the oldest submarines used by any navy in the world.
To make things worse, veteran US navy sailors who served upon the two Guppys would like Taiwan to return the submarines to the US for display in a museum.
Wendell Minnick is the Taiwan correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly.
There is much evidence that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is sending soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and is learning lessons for a future war against Taiwan. Until now, the CCP has claimed that they have not sent PLA personnel to support Russian aggression. On 18 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinskiy announced that the CCP is supplying war supplies such as gunpowder, artillery, and weapons subcomponents to Russia. When Zelinskiy announced on 9 April that the Ukrainian Army had captured two Chinese nationals fighting with Russians on the front line with details
On a quiet lane in Taipei’s central Daan District (大安), an otherwise unremarkable high-rise is marked by a police guard and a tawdry A4 printout from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating an “embassy area.” Keen observers would see the emblem of the Holy See, one of Taiwan’s 12 so-called “diplomatic allies.” Unlike Taipei’s other embassies and quasi-consulates, no national flag flies there, nor is there a plaque indicating what country’s embassy this is. Visitors hoping to sign a condolence book for the late Pope Francis would instead have to visit the Italian Trade Office, adjacent to Taipei 101. The death of
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), joined by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), held a protest on Saturday on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei. They were essentially standing for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is anxious about the mass recall campaign against KMT legislators. President William Lai (賴清德) said that if the opposition parties truly wanted to fight dictatorship, they should do so in Tiananmen Square — and at the very least, refrain from groveling to Chinese officials during their visits to China, alluding to meetings between KMT members and Chinese authorities. Now that China has been defined as a foreign hostile force,
RSS