Type 214TN REIS Class & Submarine Capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean by İbrahim SÜNNETCİ Unlike the surface years, has a quieter hull further enhance the modernization process. combatants that design, reduced flow noise operational activities Under the MLU program, can move and as well as a lower acoustic, and capabilities of the the submarines are thermal and magnetic Turkish Naval Forces equipped with the perform evasive signature compared to the in the surrounding HENSOLDT products; maneuvers only in diesel/electric propelled seas, especially in the new Navigation and two dimensions, diesel/electric powered AY Aegean and the Eastern Attack periscopes, locally the submarine (Type 209/1200), PREVEZE Mediterranean. produced sonar, ESM and (Type 209/1400) and GÜR MÜREN CMS systems, is a strategically The Submarine Group important naval Class (Type 209/1400- and AKYA National Mod) Submarines in the Command, which Heavyweight Torpedoes), platform that can inventory of the Turkish commands the strategic, 4 GÜR Class submarines, operate and carry Naval Forces Submarine silent, and hidden and 4 REİS Class out independent Group Command. weapons of the Turkish submarines (Two more operations in a Moreover, thanks to Naval Forces, continues its Type 214TN submarines their PEM Fuel Cell activities in line with the will be under construction three-dimensional mission of protecting the environment (2x120kw) based an Air and expected to undergo Independent Propulsion maritime relevance and Sea Acceptance Tests/ without any external (AIP) System and high interests of our country SAT). support even in capacity batteries in the Blue Homeland enemy-controlled (2x324 units), they can exercise which covers In recent years, the waters with its conduct long-endurance 462,000 km2. By 2025, ongoing drilling activities operations (from 4 days the Submarine Group in the East Mediterranean silent, hidden, and Command is envisaged have pit Turkey against surprising features. to 3 weeks) without the need for snorkeling. to have 2 AY Class Greece, Israel, and Egypt. submarines, 4 PREVEZE Having sovereignty rights The Hybrid powered With its superior features Class submarines (Two both in the Aegean and in Type 214TN REİS Class such as the ability to of them have been the Eastern Mediterranean Submarines, which cross the Mediterranean modernized as part of region, Turkey has constitute one of the underwater without the Mid-Life Upgrade repeatedly declared that significant turning points snorkeling and sailing to program, and the it will not allow a fait in the Turkish submarine the USA without refueling, other two are in the accompli in these regions. history which spans 134 REİS Class Submarines 82 The tension between Turkey and these three countries has increased even more with the signing of an agreement between Turkey and Libya, aiming to create an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the region from the southern Mediterranean shores of Turkey to the northeast coast of Libya. With this agreement, our country also disrupted the plans of Southern Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and Egypt to lay claim to the natural gas reserves in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Mediterranean with the and 4 Type 209/1400- construction activities Sea and also blocked the support of the technical Mod diesel/electric of the third Dolphin-II pipeline project, which and technological propelled submarines, Class Submarine INS will extend from Israel to possibilities and two of which have been Dragon (formerly INS Southern Cyprus waters, capabilities of the Israel delivered (S41/861 and Dakar) continue in HDW from the island of Crete to Defense Industry and S42/862), one in the Sea Shipyard in Germany, and Mainland Greece and from considered as a serious Acceptance Test (SAT) the submarine is expected there to the European competitor to the Turkish phase (S43/863) and to be launched in 2020. natural gas network Naval Forces Submarine one under construction The Romeo Class via Italy. Greece, Israel, Group Command. (S44/864). Delivery of Submarines, with a surface and Egypt, which are Type 209/1400-Mod Class In addition to 3 Type displacement of 1,330 currently in conflict with Submarines is planned to 209/1100 and 3 Type be completed by the end tons and a submerged Turkey in the Aegean and 209/1200 Class diesel/ displacement of 1,712 Eastern Mediterranean of 2021. As of January 2020, electric propelled tons, entered the Egyptian regarding research and Israel Navy Submarine submarines, the Greek Navy service in 1982-1984. sharing of natural gas Flotilla Shayetet 7 Navy operates 1 Type Under the US$133 million resources, are among the operates 3 diesel/electric 209/1500 and 4 Type agreement signed on June prominent countries with propelled Dolphin-I 214HN AIP Submarines. 25, 1996, the submarines strong naval presence Class Submarines and The Egyptian Navy has were modernized at and submarine force 2 Dolphin-II Class (also 4 modernized Romeo Ras El Tin Naval Base in the region. Another known as Dolphin Class (Chinese Type in Alexandria, Egypt, submarine power in the AIP or Super Dolphin) 033 Class, 831, 842, 852 by the main contractor region is Algeria, which Submarines. The and 858) submarines Lockheed Martin Tactical has 4 Improved Kilo Class (Project 636) and 2 Kilo Class (Project 877EKM) submarines supplied from the Russian Federation. Although Israel and Egypt are not at the level and capacity to compete with the Turkish Navy in terms of submarine strength and effectiveness, the Israeli Navy Submarine Flotilla Shayetet 7 (7th Flotilla), albeit it has a small number of submarines, is one of the most effective and qualified submarine forces in the Eastern Greek Navy Type 214 Submarine on Dynamic Manta 2020 Exercise 83 Harpoon) and DM2A4 Mod 4 Heavyweight Torpedoes (SUT Mod 264 in some sources). Egypt ordered 20 Harpoon Block 2 Guided Missiles through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) channel in May 2016 for use in submarines. Currently operating in two different seas, the Mediterranean and Aqaba Gulf (Red Sea), the Israeli Navy has naval bases in Haifa and Ashdod for the Mediterranean and Egyptian 209/1400 Mod Type Submarine Eilat for the Red Sea and has reshaped its Defense Systems. As part conducted in December and weapon loadout. organizational structure of the modernization 2019, one of the Romeo in recent years for the The Egyptian Navy signed activities completed Class Submarines (849) safety of natural gas a €920 million contract for in the early 2000s, the launched a Harpoon wells and reserves in the two Type 209/1400-Mod Romeo Class Submarines Missile from underwater, Eastern Mediterranean Submarines in November were equipped with and the Egyptian Ministry off the coast of Israel. 2011 and, in 2015, placed Kollmorgen product of Defense shared the The Headquarters of the a firm order for two Model 86 Optronic Mast pictures on social media. Shayetet 7, the Israeli additional submarines (Surveillance) and Model Even though the Romeo Navy Submarine Flotilla included as options in 76 Attack Periscope, a new Class Submarines are is located in Haifa, and the first contract. The first generation of active and upgraded with modern it consists entirely of submarine S41 (861) was passive sonar systems sensors and Sub- volunteers. Established delivered in December (Loral and STN Atlas Harpoon capability in 1959, Shayetet 7 (7th 2016, and the second product), a modern fire with the modernization Flotilla) is the leading submarine S42 (862) was control system, a new program, I consider that striking force of the delivered in August 2017. type of navigation and in terms of operational Israeli Navy today. Under The construction of the communication systems performance, the Romeo the agreement signed third submarine S43 (863) and Condor System AR- Class Submarines in June 1991, Shayetet was completed, and it was 700-S5 ESM (Electronic cannot even compete 7 received Dolphin-I launched on May 3, 2019. Support Measures) with the modernized Class Submarines INS According to the open System. Featuring UGM- AY Class Submarines in Dolphin on July 27, sources, Type 209/1400- 84 Submarine-launched the TNFC inventory. The 1999, INS Leviathan on Mod Submarines are Harpoon Guided Missiles Type 209/1400-Mod June 29, 1999, and INS fitted with a Combat (Encapsulated Harpoon) Submarines, the most Tekuma on October 22, Management System and NT-37F Heavyweight modern submarines in the 2000. Diesel/electric (CMS) based on ISUS-90 Torpedoes, Romeo Class Egyptian Navy inventory, propelled Dolphin-I and carry a weapon load Submarines usually carry are the same platforms as Class Submarines have consisting of UGM-84L 4 Harpoon Missiles and the GÜR Class in the TNFC a length of 57.3m, a Block 2 Sub-Harpoon 10 torpedoes. During service and are similar in height of 12.7m, a beam missiles (Encapsulated the naval exercise terms of sensor equipment of 6.8m, and a draught Super Dolphin CIC Dolphin I 84 Israeli Navy Super Dolphin Submarines of 6.2m with a surface refurbishment work. As two Dolphin-II (also known tons. Equipped with displacement of 1,640 part of the modernization as Dolphin AIP or Super ISUS-90/55 CMS, each tons and a submerged work carried out at the Dolphin) Class submarines Dolphin-II Submarine displacement of 1,900 military shipyard in was signed in 2005 can complement a tons. Dolphin-I (Type 800) Haifa under the Main between Germany and crew of 50 (35 sailors Class Submarines features Contractor TKMS/HDW, Israel. The official contract + 15 Shayetet 13 Naval a multi-compartment all the valves, pipes, for the construction of Special Force personnel) teardrop hull form and “X” radar/periscope systems the third Dolphin-II Class and can be armed with shaped control surfaces and the main diesel submarine, which was up to 21 heavyweight (rudder) instead of “+” engine of the Dolphin-I included as an option in torpedoes (DM2A4) and shape.