Pakistan is in discussion with Turkey over the sale and production of new type of submarines, Shallow Water Submarines made by a Turkish firm, STM. TM500 is shallow water, small-sized attack submarine designed by Savunma Teknolojileri ve Mühendislik (STM), a defence engineering company based in Turkey, in cooperation with the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) for the Turkish Naval Forces.
Built for Endurance:
–Operates for 30 days at depths exceeding 200 meters, accommodating 22+8 special forces personnel.
–Powered by a versatile combination of diesel, lithium-ion batteries, and an optional air-independent propulsion system (AIP) for extended cruising range.
–Travels 3,500 nautical miles on diesel, 75 nautical miles on battery, and a combined 4,000 nautical miles with diesel and AIP.
Armed and Ready:
–Boasts four torpedo tubes primed to launch eight heavy torpedoes and guided missiles – a mix of Roketsan’s AKYA high-speed torpedoes and ATMACA long-range anti-ship missiles.
–Stores additional torpedoes and missiles for sustained firepower.
Mission Master:
–Tackles a full spectrum of tactical operations:
–Submarine warfare – engaging undersea adversaries.
–Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) – gathering vital information.
–Special forces deployment – delivering elite units behind enemy lines.
–Mine warfare – laying and neutralizing mines for strategic control.
–Shallow water operations – navigating complex coastal environments.
–Unmanned underwater vehicle (UXV) and swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) support – launching and coordinating robotic and diver operations.
Sensory Superiority:
–Equipped with a sophisticated combat management system, navigation radar, and optronic search and attack periscopes for superior situational awareness.
–Employs a range of sonar systems (CAS, CTA, PRS, MAS, IDRS, ONA) for underwater detection and tracking.
December 25, 2023
Sources: Naval Today, Naval Technology, STM