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BAP Angamos (Type 209/1200) coastal submarine

Peru is modernizing four of its submarines. The four submarines – named Angamos, Antofagasta, Pisagua and Chipana – were built in the early 1980s at the thyssenkrupp Marine Systems shipyard (at that time HDW – Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH) in Kiel and have been used by the Peruvian navy ever since, forming the backbone of the Peruvian submarine fleet. The modernization project will be spanned over a period of seven years. SIMA Peru has signed contracts with Elbit Systems and ThyssenKrupp to modernize its four U209-1200 submarines. The upgrade project was initiated in 2015. Submarines included in the upgrade include the BAP Angamos (SS-31), BAP Antofagasta (SS-32), BAP Pisagua (SS-33), and BAP Chipana (SS-34). thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, a leading global system supplier for submarines and surface vessels, has received a service order worth around €40 million from the Peruvian naval shipyard SIMA. A key component of the order is the provision of consulting during the planning and realization of extensive modernization work on four HDW 209/1200 class submarines over a period of seven years. Among other things thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will perform engineering and technical services such as cutting and welding on the submarines and will make specialists available to provide local support. Andreas Burmester, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems: "We are pleased to be continuing our cooperation with the Peruvian navy. We have consistently expanded our service business over the years to be a reliable partner to our customers over the entire life cycle of naval vessels and submarines. This order shows we are on the right track." In nuclear submarines, it is impossible to eliminate the sound produced by the cooling system of the reactor, since it does not turn on or off like any other engine. All the developed technology has always been in search of a system to detect and mask or hide this sound. Recall that the main threat to the Russians or Americans was always the presence of submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles. These submarines do not need to be very fast, because they base their entire operation on stealth and silence.

In a submarine powered by batteries, the noise level is much lower and therefore much more difficult to detect in passive. That is why in many places active sonars are used, be they those of the ship, or sonobuoys launched from airplanes or submerged from helicopters. The advantages of an active sonar system are that diverse marine noises do not prevent the signal from finding the submarines and returning as an echo. While thermoclines affect this aspect, there are ways to avoid them, such as emitting under them with a towed sonar or a helicopter. The disadvantage is obviously that one makes known his position.

The Navy of Peru modernized its four submarines in the workshops of the Industrial Services of the Navy (Servicios Industriales de la Marina - SIMA PERU), with technical assistance and technology transfer from the German shipyard Thyssenkrupp Marine System GmbH. Experts from SIMA, in the port of Callao, Lima, made for the first time in its history the cutting the hull of the submarine "Chipana", the first to undergo the process of modernization. This operation marks a milestone for the increase of the operational capacities of the naval industry in Peru.

This was supervised by the Minister of Defense, José Huerta, and the commanding general of the Navy, Admiral Gonzalo Ríos. "It is the first time that a task of this nature has been carried out and, due to the importance and importance it has, I must congratulate you." We are still halfway there, but I am sure that this task will be very comforting when this submarine gets back on track. sea, and become a tool for national defense," Huerta told the experts at SIMA in charge of the work.

During the hull cut the stern cone and the bow section of the submarine were separated, with the objective of removing large systems and equipment, such as the propulsion engine and other main machinery, which could not move in a normal maintenance. It should be noted that the only access to the submarine are the hatches, which have a limited diameter and do not allow the removal of large systems and equipment for them to be repaired and modernized.

The modernization project included making a great technological leap, which involves the change of command compartment, new systems of control of shooting, propulsion systems, overhaul of the electrical system, among others. The reinforcement and modernization of the four submarine units will allow to extend its useful life horizon in 15 years, for which the "Angamos", "Antofagasta" and "Pisagua" submarines will also enter the SIMA workshops.

Elbit Systems will provide it with upgraded electronic warfare systems. Elbit Systems will apparently be a subcontractor of ThyssenKrupp, in charge of the upgrading of the electronic warfare systems for the four submarines.