Underestimating Current Submarine Technology

November 29, 2007 - Iran launches second homegrown submarine - 'This advanced submarine is equipped with the latest military and technological equipment,' state media quoted the commander of the navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari, as having said.

From a May 14, 2005 post Tehran's Submarine Gambit: A Modernized Hunley? The Ali Ghadir, and Iran’s fledgling “nuclear industry were declared icons in Iran's competition to become Islam’s center of manufacturing excellence. Sold to terrorists and successful only once in damaging a supertanker, it would send global oil futures higher than anyone has yet dreamed and it would unite "dormant Islamic radicals" behind the banner of world hegemony. We are seeing the modern equivalent of the H. L. Hunley. Lets not forget the desperation behind such “fish-boats.” Iran is to the Muslim world what Alabama was to the Southern states. So, an oil tanker like India's Seagall could become a modern Housatonic for Iran.

In August 2000, Iran launched its first domestically produced mini-submarine. The Iranian news agency said that the Al-Sabehat-15 submarine was designed to plant mines and carry out reconnaissance missions. Suppose Ahmadinejad allowed suicide terrorists to steal one of these swimmer delivery boats? We know already that he would deny responsibility. Fortunately, these craft cannot make a move without being virtually tracked and targetted.

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Nov. 28, 2007 - United Tech to build submarine fuel cell - SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) - Manufacturing conglomerate United Technologies Corp.'s (NYSE:UTX) UTC Power unit said Wednesday it will continue developing a fuel cell module to power the Spanish Navy's S-80 submarine. 'If implemented, the 300-kilowatt proton exchange membrane power source would allow the 2,500-ton S-80 submarine to stay underwater longer than diesel submarines', UTC Power said.

Earlier M.E. Speculation from April 21, 2006 - The DOD sees big advantages to deploying AIP subs in anyone's fleet. Unit cost is closer to $100 million than over $2 billion for the latest Virginia class submarines. Operating costs and deployment cycles are much lower, as well, without nuclear powerplants and nuclear operator training. While U.S. companies will build these subs, Sweden will not sell upgraded stealth technology to foreign countries, because Sweden will provide AIP and perhaps other key hardware to Electric Boat. The U.S. boats will be between 236 and 256 feet in length, around 3,000 tons displacement and still crewed by 30 sailors (with room for 20 or so SEALs or mission hardware).

While AIP costs have risen (more than doubled), M.E. stands by the original prediction.