I think Marlin is also a good option for the Pakistan.. 214 is not nessecary ...
French already supplying 5 scorpeons to india and Marlin is much imroved version of scorpeans and they are specially desgin for the Pakistan navy ... and French are the reliable partner of PN from the past ...
Although the probability is with TKMS right now in the submarine tender, do remember folks that there is still a 4+ corvette and 4 frigate requirement - as well as potential Seaking Mk.45 and Alouette III replacements. So even if DCN does not win now, there is still a chance it could at least one of the above tenders - it has a good chance in the frigate one.
At this point it appears to be from Pakistan's own finances.These programmes are to be funded via regular defence budgets or require at least partially FMS (US aid) ? Understanding this may help in guessing what role the US defence industry may want to play in these tenders.
cheers
A headline from latest issue of Janes Defence Weekly:
"French warship builder DCNS has scrapped plans to develop its Marlin submarine design for Pakistan and will offer the Scorpene instead - the same type"
08-Jun-2007 http://jdw.janes.com/public/jdw/index.shtml
French must be desparate to offer the same submarine to Pakistan that they sold to India. Pakistanis discussed U-214 with German Defence Minister just two days ago.
i doubt pakistan will get the same type of submarine as india,besides i believe there will be very little similiarity between any indian and pakistani scorpenes,indian scorpenes as to be upgraded indigenous after the first 2 are constructed(maybe something in the lines of the spanish s80).
At this point it appears to be from Pakistan's own finances.
Sabre
Are acquisitions part of the defence budget or separate allocations? Does Pakistan state both the allocations and budget in its overall defence expenditure figure - like India?
Can someone fill me in with any latest news for the submarine aquisition. why has it gone so quite all of a sudden?