Philippine Navy to partner with French Navy in creating submarine force.

According to information published by Philippine News Agency on March 16, 2021, the French Navy has committed to assist the Philippine Navy in the creation of a submarine force, Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said on Tuesday.
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Bilateral meeting with Admiral Pierre Vandier, the Chief of Naval Staff for the Marine Nationale and Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo J Bacordo PN (Picture source: Facebook)

Bacordo said this commitment was made during a bilateral high-level meeting between ranking officers of the PN and the French Navy in Paris on March 12.

The PN earlier said that it is looking to acquire two diesel-electric submarine units as part of its modernization plan.

Bacordo, who was head of the PN delegation in France, met with Admiral Pierre Vandier, chief of Naval Staff for the Marine Nationale.

Also, he said that the two navies agreed on the continuation of visits of senior leaders from the two sides and regular talks to shape future cooperation and participation in bilateral and multilateral naval exercises.

Philippines Navy already showed interest to purchase Scorpene-class submarines from France.

The Scorpène submarine is capable of carrying out all types of missions, such as anti-surface vessel warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations or intelligence gathering. It is extremely stealthy and fast, and is equipped with a comprehensive range of weapons (torpedoes, missiles, mines).

The Scorpène-class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines jointly developed by the French Company Naval Group (formerly DCNS) and the Spanish company Navantia. The Scorpène class of submarines has four subtypes including the CM-2000 conventional diesel-electric version, the AM-2000 air-independent propulsion (AIP) derivative, the downsized CA-2000 coastal submarine, and the enlarged S-BR for the Brazilian Navy, without AIP. The Scorpéne-class submarines are in service with Chile, Malaysia, India, and Brazil. Over fourteen Scorpène submarines were sold by Naval Group internationally.