Argentina seeks to introduce three submarines worth 3 trillion won... Competition for financial support between China and Buddhism

Local media outlets such as Perfil and Iprofessional reported on the 9th (local time) that Argentina is pursuing a plan to purchase three attack submarines by spending up to $2.3 billion (approximately 3.09 trillion won) based on the financial support plan proposed by the German and French governments.

Argentina's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Marcelo Della Nogare said in a recent speech at the Buenos Aires Rotary Club that the German and French governments proposed a plan to support domestic defense companies' participation in bidding and raise 100% of the contract amount through financial support.

The candidate models are the 209NG class from Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and the Scorpen class from France's Naval Group. Both models are attack submarines with diesel and electric propulsion.

Argentina's military authorities have already completed a technical evaluation and determined that both models meet the Navy's requirements.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dela Nogare stated that the choice of model and whether to proceed with the project are areas of political judgment.

Local media reported that even if the government selects a specific model, follow-up procedures are necessary until the actual contract and financing are confirmed.

It is reported that the Argentine Navy lost operational underwater power following the sinking of the submarine San Juan in November 2017.

The new submarine is planned to be deployed at the Mar del Plata naval base. Once introduction is confirmed, base facility maintenance and crew training will also be carried out.

The Argentine Navy conducted submarine boarding training in Peru in preparation for a power vacuum, and in July 2025, simulator training was conducted on submarine attacks, periscope operation, underwater navigation, and response to emergency situations such as flooding and fire.