France extends support in creation of submarine force in PH

FRANCE is extending its support to the Philippines in the creation of its own submarine force to safeguard its maritime sovereignty.

The Naval Group, a major French industrial company specializing in naval defense design, development and construction, made its first technical and financial offer to support the Philippine Navy in establishing its own submarine force by opening its offices in Makati on Wednesday.

Naval Group corporate sales director for the Philippines Loïc Beaurepaire. PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno

On Thursday, Loic Beaurepaire, the Naval Group's corporate sales director for the Philippines, presented to the media what his company can offer to the country to strengthen its sovereignty and develop its maritime security capacities.

According to Beaurepaire, the Naval Group is working on two programs to help the Philippine government meet its security and sovereignty expectations: the anti-torpedo solution, for which a contractual milestone will be reached this year; and the creation of a submarine fleet.

He said the fleet would be based on the design of Scorpene, a reliable, fast and discreet conventional submarine adapted to the Philippines' submarine force creation needs.

Beaurepaire said the Naval Group has proposed a strategic partnership, offering the military and industrial autonomy that the Philippines require.

“This will contribute to strengthening the country's maritime sovereignty and reinforce its defense posture,” he said during the media briefing held at the Raffles Hotel in Makati City.

Beaurepaire pointed out that a submarine force will provide the Philippine Navy with the capability to respond to multiple types of threats.

He said the Naval Group will also organize an extensive transfer of technology and know-how to ensure the management, operation and maintenance of the submarine force are conducted in the Philippines by Filipinos.

The Naval Group is a naval systems provider and integrator with a history of more than 400 years in the defense industry with its headquarters in France. It is a partner to more than 50 navies around the world.

The company designs, builds, integrates, provides in-service support, dismantles and deconstructs submarines and surface ships.

As an industrial contractor, designer and overall integrator of whole warships and combat systems, it also offers a full range of services to naval bases and shipyards.

Globally, 14 Scorpene submarines have already been ordered by other countries such as in Chile, Malaysia, India, and Brazil.