Philippines considers Scorpene-class diesel electric submarine for submarine program

A Scorpene-class diesel electric attack submarine. Photo c/o Navy Recognition.

The Philippines Secretary of National Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana confirmed in an interview with the local media that the Philippine Navy (PN) has included the Scorpene-class diesel electric submarine of French shipyard Naval Group as one of the platforms being considered for its Submarine acquisition program. 

A team from the Department of National Defense (DND) led by Sec. Lorenzana will be visiting 5 European countries including France, and is scheduled to visit the Naval Group’s facilities and look at their submarine production and technology.

The Scorpene-class is available in four standard variants: a standard conventional diesel-electric variant called the CM-2000, a variant with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system called the AM-2000, a downsized coastal patrol variant called the CA-2000, and an enlarged variant which is currently used by the Brazilian Navy called the S-BR variant.

The PN has been finding ways to secure funding for the acquisition of 2 or 3 new diesel-electric attack submarines, and is open to securing soft loans as part of a government-to-government negotiation with the submarine builder’s government of origin. 

Other countries that made their pitch to help fund and supply submarines were Russia, South Korea, and Germany.

It is believed that the PN is after the standard CM-2000 variant, which has a displacement of around 1,565 tons, a length of 61.7 meters, a beam of 6.2 meters, and a draft of 5.8 meters. The CM-2000 variant has a maximum speed of 20 knots while submerged, and 12 knots when surfaced. It has a maximum range of 6,500 nautical miles at 8 knots and surfaced, or 550 nautical miles at 5 knots when submerged.

The entire class has a standard fit of six 533mm torpedo tubes for a mix on heavyweight torpedoes, mines, and the MBDA SM39 Exocet anti-ship missile.

The Scorpene-class is currently in service with the Chilean Navy, Indian Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy, and is being built for the Brazilian Navy.


[1] Philippine News Agency
[2] MaxDefense Philippines
[3] Naval Technology