Algeria ordering two Kilo class submarines

Algeria will soon order two Kilo class diesel electric submarines from Russia, which will join the four already in its fleet.

A Russian defence industry source told ITAR-TASS that Algeria plans to order the two Project 636 Varshavyanka (Kilo class) submarines in the first half of this year, for delivery by 2018. The submarines will be constructed at the Admiralty Shipyard in St Petersburg.

The value of the contract may be more than $1.2 billion, according to Interfax.

Algeria already operates four Kilo class submarines. In June 2006 Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Algerian Navy for the construction of two Project 636 Improved Kilo class submarines under a roughly US$400-600 million contract. Construction of the first submarine started in 2006 and the second began in 2007. They were handed over to the Algerian Navy in March and September 2010 where they joined two Project 877EKM Kilo diesel electric submarines, which Algeria received in 1987-1988. The latter two were upgraded by Russian shipyards.

The Project 636 Varshavyanka class is mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in relatively shallow waters. The tear-drop hulled submarine is 72.6m long, 9.9m wide and can dive to 300 meters. The design has a displacement of 3076 tons. Underwater, it reportedly has a speed of up to 25 knots. The complement is 52 and the submarine has an endurance of 45 days. The boat is fitted with six 533mm torpedo tubes and carries up to 18 homing or wire-guided torpedoes, or 24 AM-1 mines.

The outer hull is covered with sound damping tiles and its machinery as well as design is regarded as very quiet. Designed by the Rubin Central Maritime Design Bureau of St Petersburg, the submarine entered service in 1982. The type was originally built at the Komsomolsk shipyard and lately by the Admiralty Shipyard in St Petersburg. It is in service with the navies of Russia, China, Vietnam, Iran, India and Poland, among others. Some 50 have been built.

The Algerian Navy has been undergoing expansion in recent years as it faces problems such as smuggling, illegal migration and indigenous terrorism. These threats mainly affect Algeria's harbours and maritime communication routes and ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Consequently, the Algerian Navy maintains a well-trained and well-equipped fleet to provide security to more than 1000 km of coastline. The country is also maintaining a strong navy to deter its neighbours, notably Morocco.

In April 2012 it emerged that Algeria had signed a contract with the China Shipbuilding Trading Company for three light frigates, after ordering two Meko A-200N frigates from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in March 2012. The three light frigates will displace around 2 800 tons fully loaded, and will be powered by MTU diesel engines. Algeria has also ordered two new Tiger class corvettes from Russia. The Tiger corvette (Project 20382) is an export model of the Project 20380 Steregushchy class, which is the Russian Navy’s newest corvette class.

In January Italian shipyard Fincantieri launched the Algerian Navy’s Kalaat Beni-Abbes landing helicopter dock ship, which will be delivered to Algeria later this year. Algeria may order a second of the type in the coming months.

Counter-Terrorism ----- Algeria, The Other Threat Grows

The January raid on a natural gas facility in southern Algeria (near the Tunisian border) that got 70 people killed (including all the Islamic terrorist attackers) has resulted in much tighter security around the facility and all others. The foreign firms are satisfied with the new security arrangements and are allowing their citizens to return to work at the plant. Without the foreigners, full production has not been resumed and a lot of other technical work had to be postponed.

 

Oil and natural gas account for 95 percent of exports and the foreign currency needed to buy imports. Most food is imported and over the last three decades the economy has stagnated because of corruption and continued belief in centralized control. If the current leadership (who have been in power since France left in the 1960s) wants to prevent another rebellion they have to fix the economy. But as long as the leaders refuse to allow foreign investment and local entrepreneurs to operate freely economic revival is not happening. Official unemployment is 10 percent but that includes a lot of marginal jobs provided by the government. For men under 30, the government admits there is a much higher unemployment rate (over 20 percent), and these are the people who would start and sustain another revolution. Few of these young men are attracted to Islamic terrorism any more, but most want some economic and social changes and so far all the government offers are admissions that there is a problem but no real solutions. Meanwhile, oil income is shrinking because current oil and gas fields are running dry and government investment restrictions and inept management hamper efforts to find new fields. The population increases and those who do not flee the country become angrier and more impatient.

  

The government believes that 4 diplomats taken captive by Islamic terrorists in Mali in April 2012 are still alive. But there is no direct contact with the captors and trying to free the 4 is difficult. The government does not want to pay ransom, so as not to encourage more such attacks.

  

October 11, 2013: Across the border in Tunisia, soldiers raided a house near the Kasserine Pass where a terrorist leader and some followers were reported (by a local informant) to be. After an hour long gun battle the Islamic terrorists escaped, leaving behind a phone and some ammo. Tunisian border police and soldiers have spent over 4 months hunting for up to 50 Islamic terrorists who are operating near the Kasserine Pass and Mount Chaambi in the Atlas Mountains just across the border.

 

Tunisian security personnel are searching a hundred square kilometers of sparsely populated forests and mountains without much success. This is the first time Tunisia has had to deal with armed Islamic terrorists since 2007. These armed men have been active in the area since January. Some of these terrorists fled Mali earlier this year and others are from Algeria.

 

October 10, 2013: Algerian security forces on the southern borders with Mali and Libya killed 8 Islamic terrorists and captured weapons, documents, and vehicles. Unlike the operations in the Atlas Mountains up north, the border patrols have been more successful at killing and capturing Islamic terrorists.

  

Parliament is introducing stricter laws against terrorism and smuggling. The smugglers often work for Islamic terrorists, getting weapons and personnel in and out of the country. The new laws will make it easier to go after the smugglers. 

  

October 3, 2013: West of the capital a roadside bomb went off, wounding 3 civilians. In the southern oasis town of Ghardaia, violence between Arab and Berber residents over water and religion led to 4 arrests and 6 policemen wounded while breaking up riots.

  

October 2, 2013: Tunisian police arrested 4 Islamic terrorists near the Algerian border. In the last 3 days police have arrested 31 actual (armed) or suspected Islamic terrorists in Tunisia. While several dozen armed Islamic terrorists are operating in the Atlas Mountains near the Algerian border, there are hundreds more throughout the country trying to organize an uprising that would establish a religious dictatorship. Most Tunisians want nothing to do with this.

 

October 1, 2013: Last month army personnel cleared over 4,800 mines along the eastern and western borders. Many of these mines date back to the 1960s.

Counter-Terrorism ----- The Wakeup Call In Algeria

The 32 AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) terrorists who attacked an Algerian natural gas facility (at Amenas) on January 16^th initially succeeded because of inadequate security measures by the Algerian government. That’s the conclusion of a study of the incident by one of the two foreign companies (Statoil) that operates the facility. The Algerian government is saying little about the raid, much less the inability of the government to detect the raiders or prevent the attack.

 

The initial government investigation into the terrorist attack on Amenas did admit the operation was made possible by poor security procedures at the natural gas facility. The government later said those deficiencies were being fixed and more armed guards and better physical defenses and local intelligence collecting procedures were being implemented. No details of these new measures have been revealed, but that’s to be expected, because you don’t want potential attackers to know exactly what to expect. There is some more visible security at the facility, but what made the January attack possible was the failure of  Algerian intelligence and “outer security” (surveillance, patrols, and checkpoints around the remote facility). Other Middle Eastern nations have taken more effective security measures and the effectiveness of those efforts has been tested. Saudi Arabia has detected several major attacks, while the terrorists were still planning and organizing. In one major attack that was not detected, attackers headed for the largest Saudi refinery were stopped at the gates. At Amenas the attackers not only got to the gates but quickly shot their way through.

  

In Algeria the poor security was the result of decades of local Islamic terrorists not attacking Algerian oil and gas facilities because so many Algerians depended on the oil and gas revenue to survive.

 

Thus, a terrorist attack on these facilities would be very unpopular and hurt the terrorists, and local terrorists observed this unwritten rule. But the January attack involved only one Algerian. Most of the attackers did not care what the Algerian people thought.

 

The Amenas attack involved thirty-two men, one of whom used to work at the facility. Thus the terrorists knew the internal layout and routines. Some eight-hundred people worked (and most lived) at the facility. The terrorists concentrated on capturing one-hundred and thirty-two foreign workers (thirty-nine of whom died, plus one security guard) but most workers escaped. The terrorists failed (largely through incompetence) in blowing up the facility and twenty-nine of them were killed when the Algerian military moved in on the 17^th. Fighting was over by the 21^st, but most of the violence occurred on the 18^th and 19^th. Three of the terrorists were captured, making it possible to obtain details of how the attack was planned and carried out.

  

Several foreign countries offered to help Algeria improve its oil and gas facility security but it’s unclear how much of that assistance was accepted. Production was resumed on February 22^nd but has not returned to normal. That is expected to happen before the end of the year because the foreign companies that supply technical personnel and special services for the facility have agreed that the new security measures are adequate and have allowed their personnel (all non-Algerian) to return.

Algeria - Why Terrorists Hate This Place

More ethnic violence has broken out in the south (Ghardaia, 600 kilometers south of the capital) where at least a dozen were injured in street fighting between Arabs and Berbers. There was also a religious element to the hostility as the local Berbers belong to a Shia sect. Algerians Arabs tend to be Sunni and Sunni conservatives consider Shia heretics. An increasing number of Berbers are also converting to Christianity, as a protest against the continued persecution of Berbers. This further infuriates the Sunnis. The government says that only 11,000 (out of 34 million) Algerians are Christian. But Christian religious leaders say the number is 30,000 and growing fast, especially among Berbers. The government fears these Berber Christians and Berbers in general. The Berbers, a people related to the ancient Egyptians, were the original occupants of Algeria. Arab armies conquered the country over a thousand years ago, but, unlike other Arab conquests, most Berbers did not adopt Arab language and customs. Today, about a third of Algerians are Berbers, and speak the Berber language, Tamazight. There has always been tension between Berbers and Arabs, and now Berbers are demanding that their language be made one of Algeria's official languages. The Arab dominated government refuses to consider this.

 

In the Atlas Mountains just across the Tunisian border police and soldiers have been searching for about fifty Islamic terrorists who are operating near the Kasserine Pass. Tunisian security personnel are searching a hundred square kilometers of sparsely populated forests and mountains without much success. Algerian border security in that area has been increased in case the terrorists try to flee into Algeria. This is the first time Tunisia has had to deal with armed Islamic terrorists since 2007. These armed men have been active in the area for at least six months. Some of these terrorists recently fled Mali and others are from Algeria. These were joined by a smaller group (a dozen or so) of Tunisian Islamic terrorists who had apparently not been active until joined by all these new men and a few local recruits. Eleven of the 32 terrorists killed nearby in an attack on an Algerian natural gas field in January, were Tunisian, which provided a hint that there were a lot more Islamic terrorists in Tunisia than the government wanted to admit.

 

The defeat of al Qaeda in Mali has sent hundreds of experienced Islamic terrorists looking for a new refuge. Algeria, because of its large and experienced counter-terrorism forces, is not seen as a suitable destination. Tunisia and Libya, on the other hand, are. Many of these Mali refugees have also gone to Europe, despite the large and alert counter-terrorism forces there. 

 

May 5, 2013: Police attacked several hundred young people demonstrating outside parliament and demanding economic reforms that would create more jobs. Several demonstrators were arrested and dozens injured. The unemployment rate of those under 35 is over 20 percent and many who are employed don’t get paid much. The government has created a lot of pointless and low-paid government jobs that just make those getting them more eager for a real job. More jobs are not being created because of decades of government corruption and rules that discourage entrepreneurs and new businesses that would threaten those run by friends of the government. Despite this discontent, no one has been able to get large scale and persistent demonstrations going. This is partly because the police have been able to detect and disrupt attempts to organize larger protests. This is largely due to the internal intelligence services, which became larger and more effective during the anti-terrorism campaign of the 1990s and did not “demobilize” after the terrorists were defeated a decade ago. So when the Arab Spring came along two years ago, the Algerian government was ready (which similar governments in neighboring Tunisia and Libya were not). 

 

May 2, 2013: In the south (Chlef province) police arrested a man wearing an explosive belt and prevented a suicide bomber attack. The arrested man was recruited by al Qaeda. 

 

April 28, 2013: An air force patrol spotted four vehicles carrying armed men crossing the Libyan border. Soldiers were sent to intercept and the resulting gun battle left five Islamic terrorists and three soldiers dead. Another ten terrorists fled into the desert and troops pursued them. This was the largest clash with Islamic terrorists since the terrorist raid on a natural gas field near the border in January.

Three local defense force volunteers were killed 70 kilometers east of the capital. The attackers were believed to be Islamic terrorists, which the 94,000 local defense force volunteers watch out for. First organized in 1994, the defense volunteers were a key element in defeating the Islamic terrorist uprising of the 1990s. 

 

April 27, 2013: President Bouteflika suffered a mild stroke while visiting France. The 77 year old Bouteflika is one of the 1950s revolutionaries who led the battle for independence. He has been president since 1999 and has continued the post-revolution of rigged elections and corruption. This is what the Islamic radicals rebelled against in the 1990s. That uprising was defeated mainly because the Islamic radicals seemed even worse than the corrupt “old revolutionaries.” Most Algerians are still unhappy with their government but not willing to suffer through another revolution, not yet. 

 

April 25, 2013:  Two local security volunteers were wounded by a roadside bomb 510 kilometers east of the capital.

Another Battle Of Kasserine Pass

In Tunisia a group of fifty or more Islamic terrorists are operating in the Mount Chaambi region near the Algerian border (close to the Kasserine Pass through the Atlas Mountains that stretch across most of the North African coast ). Soldiers and police are searching a hundred square kilometers of sparsely populated forests and mountains without much success. The searchers have found evidence that there is someone up there, but the group has so far managed to avoid detection. This is the first time Tunisia has had to deal with armed Islamic terrorists since 2007.

 

These armed men have been active in the area for at least six months. Soldiers sent to the area have suffered about twenty casualties from booby-traps and handmade landmines left around by the terrorists. A camp found near the top of Mount Chaambi and it contained documents, weapons and equipment indicating the size and origin of the group. This group appears to be well supplied and seems to have enough cash to keep themselves going for a while. Some of these men have recently fled Mali and others are from Algeria. These were joined by a smaller group (a dozen or so) of Tunisian Islamic terrorists who had apparently not been active until joined by all these new men and a few local recruits. Eleven of the 32 terrorists killed nearby in an attack on an Algerian natural gas field in January were Tunisian which provided a hint that there were a lot more Islamic terrorists in Tunisia than the government wanted to admit. 

 

There has been one gun battle near Mount Chaambi so far, in which no one was hurt. Police have arrested twenty suspects in the region, but none of these appear to have much knowledge of the Islamic terrorists in the mountains. There appear to be at least two separate armed groups and police are blocking the few roads in the area to try and prevent the terrorists from moving to another part of the country. 

 

Tunisia was the first country to carry out an Arab Spring uprising and a new government was installed two years ago. Islamic radicals were released from jail and allowed to operate in the open as long as they did not turn to terrorism or anything illegal inside Tunisia. These radicals have tried, so far without success, to get the new government to establish a religious dictatorship that would enforce Islamic (Sharia) law.

Algeria - Al Qaeda Under Heavy Attack

The government continues to remain one move ahead of the kind of rebellion that hit other similarly corrupt governments during the “Arab Spring”. Enough of the most corrupt and inept members of the government are being dumped, along with some economic progress, to keep angry mobs off the streets. People are still angry because there is still a lot of corruption and lost economic opportunities around for all to see. In Algeria the Arab Spring at least served to provide some needed motivation to fix the mess decades of bad government created. Algerians are hoping to have a bloodless revolution, largely because they do not want a repeat of the bloody war with Islamic radicals in the 1990s. To that end, even senior people in the government are helping out by turning on the most corrupt and inept members of the leadership and even going public with details of the massive thefts of oil income over the years. European firms that have long done business with the Algerian company are going public with details and this helps persuade their Algerian counterparts to admit what everyone in Algeria already suspects. While these European revelations are largely the result of European efforts to clean up their own corruption, it helps reformers in foreign countries like Algeria. 

France has not yet been able to get DNA proof that the man Chadian troops killed in northern Mali on March 2^nd was Mokhtar Belmokhtar (the planner of the January natural gas facility attack in southern Algeria that got 37 workers killed). Al Qaeda says Belmokhtar is still alive but offer no proof. The supreme leader of al Qaeda in North Africa (Abdel Malek Droukdel) is believed to still be hiding out in northern Algeria and he would be the one to appoint a successor to Belmokhtar. There has been no such announcement yet. Meanwhile, the destruction of so many al Qaeda bases in Mali, and the death of hundreds of hard-core Islamic terrorists there, have demoralized Islamic radicals throughout North Africa. At the same time all counter-terrorism forces in the region are trying to take advantage of all this by seeking out Islamic terrorists fleeing Mali. 

Seizures of illegal drugs (hashish, cocaine, and heroin) tripled last year (from 53 tons 2011 to 157 tons). This is an indication of growing affluence in Algeria, but the hashish and cocaine are coming from the south mainly for export to Europe. This smuggling is a primary source of income for al Qaeda and other Islamic radical groups, and the seizures are an indication of its success and the extent of Algerian efforts to stop it. 

March 2, 2013: In Mali Chadian and French troops found and destroyed a major al Qaeda camp near the Algerian border. Among the dead were two Algerians (Abdel Hamid Abu Zeid and Mokhtar Belmokhtar) who were high ranking al Qaeda leaders. 

February 24, 2013: The Tiguentourine natural gas facility in the south resumed limited production. The plant had been closed since the January terrorist attack that left 37 workers dead. Heroic efforts by key members of the security and operational staff prevented the plant from being heavily damaged. This was done by shutting down the gas flow early on, something the terrorists could not figure out how to reverse with all the key technical staff dead, fled, or silent. 

February 22, 2013: Two raids in the north left a dozen al Qaeda men dead. More importantly 13 weapons and many documents were seized. 

February 20, 2013: The U.S. has put its diplomatic personnel in Algeria on high alert because intelligence indicated there is a high risk of a terrorist operation against them. At the same time Algeria announced increased security around oil and gas facilities. 

February 18, 2013: Acting on a tip from locals, troops in the south found the base of seven Islamic terrorists from Mali. Four of the terrorists were killed but three got away, apparently headed for Mali.

Algeria hikes military spending as Al Qaida threat rises

Algeria, facing increasing threats from Al Qaida, has increased its defense budget for 2013.

The Algerian Defense Ministry has requested a $10.3 billion budget for 2013, an increase of more than 14.2 percent from the previous year.

 Algerian Air Force Su-30MK fighter-jet.

The ministry’s request included additional funds for weapons procurement, particularly in the area of counter-insurgency.

“The increase is part of an expansion of the ministry into areas that had long been under the authority of the Interior Ministry,” an Algerian source said.

The source said the Defense Ministry budget increase also reflected military modernization in the North African state. The $8 billion program included the procurement of Russian-origin Su-30MK fighter-jets, T-90S main battle tanks and Kilo-class submarines. Algeria has the largest military in North Africa with the exception of Egypt.

The Defense Ministry was assigned to take over the Municipal Guard, for decades a CI force of nearly 100,000. The Algerian newspaper Tout sur L’Algerie reported that the takeover would ensure the continuation of the force, responsible for rural areas of Algeria and long plagued by poor morale and corruption.

The source said the defense budget increase would help reorganize the Municipal Guard as well as other forces. Under the latest budget, which represents a 57 percent increase in spending since 2009, Algeria’s militaryand security forces would receive higher salaries and enhanced benefits.

Algeria looking to procure two additional Improved Kilo Project 636M Diesel Submarines from Russia

Algeria may order two additional diesel electric submarines of project 636M considered one of the best selling products of the Russian defense industry from Russia. A source in the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Rosoboronexport received an application from Algeria for purchase of two diesel electric submarines of project 636M (Kilo according to NATO classification).

A source close to the special exporter of Russian armament confirmed this. According to one of the sources, in August the Ministry of Industry and Trade chose Admiralty Shipyards (a part of USC) as contractor for the order according to proposal of the Federal Service for Military Technological Cooperation. The source explained, "The decision of Algeria to buy additional submarines from Russia is evidently connected with growth of tension in the region with regard to events of the "Arab spring." The source explained that the contractor for the order was chosen "in accordance with wishes of the customer country." In 2020, Admiralty Shipyards supplied two submarines of project 636 to Algeria in the framework of fulfillment of the contract of 2006 (its value amounted to about $600 million). The sources did not disclose the value of the new contract.

                         

Algeria may order two additional diesel electric submarines of project 636M considered one of the best selling products of the Russian defense industry from Russia. A source in the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Rosoboronexport received an application from Algeria for purchase of two diesel electric submarines of project 636M (Kilo according to NATO classification).

Project 636 Improved Kilo class submarines, featuring advanced “stealth” technology, extended combat range and ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets

(picture: Internet)

                         

Kilo class submarine was designed by central maritime design bureau Rubin. It is considered one of the most silent diesel submarine in the world. Its length amounts to 73.8 meters, width amounts to 9.9 meters and displacement amounts to 2,350 cubic meters. Underwater speed amounts to 20 knots, the maximal submersion depth amounts to 300 meters. The crew consists of 52 people. The submarine is armed with four missiles (the quantity may be increased), 18 torpedoes and 24 mines.

Project 636 represents a modernized submarine of project 877EKM Varshavyanka supplied to seven countries including Algeria between the 1980s and 1990s. Two submarines of project 877EK were built for Algeria at Admiralty Shipyards in the 1980s. In 2005, Admiralty Shipyards together with Rubin design bureau signed a contract on repair of these two submarines and in 2006 Algeria decided to buy two new submarines. Thus, in case of signing of a new contract the navy of Algeria will have six submarines made in Russia.

One of the sources says that signing of a firm contract is expected in 2013. A source close to Rosoboronexport does not rule out that its signing may be postponed because of disputes about the candidacy of the contractor. The source adds, "USC is currently struggling for revision of the resolution of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The corporation counts on reception of the status of the only supplier of submarines of project 636 in the framework of the Algerian contract and to use Admiralty Shipyard for its fulfillment." Earlier, USC tried to achieve granting of a status of a subject of military technological cooperation with a right of "foreign trade activity related to military products."

Representatives of USC could not answer the question if this practice would be applicable to other export contracts. Press secretary of the corporation Alexei Kravchenko refused to comment. A source in the shipbuilding industry presumed that this entire store could be connected with plans of USC "to build internal cooperation."

Sergei Karabaev, managing partner of lawyer bureau Karabaev and Partners, presumes that USC has good changes to receive status of contractor for the export order. Karabaev adds, "There is a legal loophole: it is sufficient for USC to obtain a license of Rosoboronzakaz that says that the corporation is producer of military products. Then USC will be able to hire Admiralty Shipyards for fulfillment of the export order in the framework of cooperation." However, in this case USC will have either to buy or to rent production facilities because this is one of the terms for issue of a license. The expert concludes that air defense corporation Almaz-Antey has been working on the market of military technological cooperation in this way for many years.

Super Sea Lynx for Algerian Meko Frigates

The Algerian Air Force currently operates four Super Sea Lynx 130 in Search and rescue missions, along with AW101 (Merlins) used for the same role. The navy is planning to deploy a larger version – Super Sea Lynx 300 with its modernized Meko frigates.

The Algerian Navy is believed to have ordered six AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 helicopters for its new Meko A200 class frigates, Defenseweb reports. In its results for the second quarter of 2012, Finmeccanica stated that, “the most important new orders of the period in the military-government line include the contract to supply six AW Super Lynx 300 helicopters to a key customer in the southern Mediterranean area…”. Algeria has requested that its helicopter deals with AgustaWestland remain confidential and the Finmeccanica company does not comment on any Algerian acquisitions. However, it is believed that Algeria is acquiring at least 80 helicopters from AgustaWestland. These will be used by its armed forces, paramilitary forces and emergency forces and are being procured through the Algerian Ministry of Defense.

The new helicopters are expected to operate from the Algerian Navy’s two Meko A200 frigates, which were ordered from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) on March 26 this year. TKMS will supply the two frigates and six Super Lynx helicopters under the initial contract worth around €400 million.

Algerian crews were trained in Cornwall in the UK, with the first Lynx flying by February 2010 and the first Merlin commencing training flights in May. All the aircraft from this deal are believed to have been delivered and are fully operational. The fourth and final Super Lynx Mk 130 was delivered in January this year, after the first two were delivered in September 2010, followed by the third in February 2011.

The Algerian Super Lynx 130 are operating with six AW101 Mk 610 in Search-and-Rescue missions.  Finmeccanica is also believed to have signed multiple additional contracts with Algerian government agencies, including 15 AW109s and 10-15 AW101s for the Gendarmerie and 27-32 AW101s and 15 AW109s to be assembled locally. In addition, the first two of five AW139s ordered by Algires were delivered to the Protection Civile in February this year.

Navantia to modernise Algerian Navy warships

Navantia has been contracted to repair and modernise two of the Algerian Navy’s warships and extend their service lives.

Navantia announced that the contract had entered into force yesterday. It is the largest contract in the history of Navantia’s Fene-Ferrol shipyard, where work will be carried out in conjunction with other Navantia units.

Arrival of the first ship is expected in September, along with a large delegation of the Algerian Navy, which will be stationed at Ferrol for the inspection, monitoring and testing of the ships, Navantia said.

This contract was won after intensive work, in the context of an open international tender, in competition with the major European shipyards.

News of the contract first emerged in January this year when it was reported that Navantia had been selected to modernise the two vessels as part of a 75 million euro deal, covering the integration of a new command and control system, new gun and targeting systems and the structural modernisation of the vessels for greater performance and safety. The work is expected to take two years to complete.

Since 1992, Navantia Fene-Ferrol has repaired Algerian liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, “which combined with its experience in the maintenance of vessels of the Spanish navy, proved to be the best introduction to win this contest,” the company said.

Algeria is in the process of expanding its navy in recent years as it faces problems such as smuggling, illegal migration and indigenous terrorism. These threats mainly affect Algeria's harbours and maritime communication routes and ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Consequently, the Algerian Navy maintains a well-trained and well-equipped fleet to provide security to more than 1 000 km of coastline.

On March 26 this year, Algeria’s ministry of defence ordered two Meko A200 frigates from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The contract, No. 674/889, was signed after a year of negotiations. In 2008 Forecast International reported that Algeria was seeking to acquire four new frigates.

TKMS will supply two Meko 200 frigates and six AgustaWestland Super Lynx helicopters under the contract, which, according to Bild, is worth more than €400 million.

In May it emerged that Algeria had signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company for three light frigates. They will be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. The vessels will displace around 2 800 tons fully loaded, and will be powered by MTU diesel engines.

In the middle of last year it was announced that Algeria had signed a deal with Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation and state arms exporter Rosoboronexport for two new Tiger class corvettes. The Tiger corvette (Project 20382) is an export model of the Project 20380 Steregushchy class, which is the Russian Navy’s newest corvette class.

The vessel can be equipped with a variety of weaponry, including 100 or 76.2 mm guns, 14.5 mm machine guns, 533 mm torpedoes and a variety of surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles (e.g. P-800 Oniks, Uran-E or Yakhont). In addition, the vessels have capacity for a helicopter.

According to the IISS’s The Military Balance 2012, Algeria’s surface fleet comprises of three 1970s-era Koni class antisubmarine frigates, six corvettes, 22 patrol and coastal combat vessels, three amphibious vessels and three logistics and support ships.

In June 2006 Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Algerian Navy for the construction of two Project 636 Improved Kilo class submarines under a roughly US$400 million contract.

Construction of the first submarine started in 2006 and the second began in 2007. They were handed over to the Algerian Navy in March and September 2010 where they joined two Project 877EKM Kilo diesel electric submarines, which Algeria received in 1987-1988.

Russia is presently upgrading a Nanuchka II class corvette and a Koni II class frigate for the Algerian Navy and will hand them over in July. Algeria and the Severnaya Verf shipyard signed a contract in 2007 for the overhaul of three warships of each class. Russia delivered the first pair, consisting of a Project 1234E Nanuchka II class corvette (Rais Hamidou) and a Project 1159T Koni II class frigate (Mourad Rais), to Algeria in February 2011.

Germany to train Algerian Navy personnel

The Germany Navy has signed a contract with Algeria to train its naval personnel in ship and helicopter operations, according to the German Defence Ministry. The training is believed to form part of Algeria’s recent acquisition of two Meko frigates.

The training will take place in Germany and at sea and will involve 16 Germany Navy training personnel, who will train their Algerian counterparts between 2013 and 2017, reports Germany’s Bild. Training will take place aboard Algeria’s frigates from 2017. Algeria will pay the €12 million cost of training.

On March 26 this year, Algeria’s ministry of defence ordered two Meko A200 frigates from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The contract, No. 674/889, was signed after a year of negotiations. In 2008 Forecast International reported that Algeria was seeking to acquire four new frigates.

TKMS will supply two Meko 200 frigates and six AgustaWestland Super Lynx helicopters under the contract, which, according to Bild, is worth more than €400 million.

Algeria is in the process of expanding its navy in recent years as it faces problems such as smuggling, illegal migration and indigenous terrorism. These threats mainly affect Algeria's harbours and maritime communication routes and ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Consequently, the Algerian Navy maintains a well-trained and well-equipped fleet to provide security to more than 1000 km of coastline.

In May it emerged that Algeria had signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company for three light frigates. They will be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. The vessels will displace around 2 800 tons fully loaded, and will be powered by MTU diesel engines.

In the middle of last year it was announced that Algeria had signed a deal with Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation and state arms exporter Rosoboronexport for two new Tiger class corvettes. The Tiger corvette (Project 20382) is an export model of the Project 20380 Steregushchy class, which is the Russian Navy’s newest corvette class.

The vessel can be equipped with a variety of weaponry, including 100 or 76.2 mm guns, 14.5 mm machine guns, 533 mm torpedoes and a variety of surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles (e.g. P-800 Oniks, Uran-E or Yakhont). In addition, the vessels have capacity for a helicopter.

According to the IISS’s The Military Balance 2012, Algeria’s surface fleet comprises of three 1970s-era Koni class antisubmarine frigates, six corvettes, 22 patrol and coastal combat vessels, three amphibious vessels and three logistics and support ships.

In June 2006 Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Algerian Navy for the construction of two Project 636 Improved Kilo class submarines under a roughly US$400 million contract.

Construction of the first submarine started in 2006 and the second began in 2007. They were handed over to the Algerian Navy in March and September 2010 where they joined two Project 877EKM Kilo diesel electric submarines, which Algeria received in 1987-1988.

Russia is presently upgrading a Nanuchka II class corvette and a Koni II class frigate for the Algerian Navy and will hand them over in July. Algeria and the Severnaya Verf shipyard signed a contract in 2007 for the overhaul of three warships of each class. Russia delivered the first pair, consisting of a Project 1234E Nanuchka II class corvette (Rais Hamidou) and a Project 1159T Koni II class frigate (Mourad Rais), to Algeria in February 2011.

Algerian ship makes historic visit to United States

The Algerian Navy ship ANS Soummam (937) has arrived in New York City for a five-day port visit, marking the first time an Algerian Navy ship has ever visited the United States.

Soummam transited the Atlantic Ocean as part of a training program for officer trainees from the Algerian Naval High School. She was greeted on arrival by Algeria’s ambassador to the United States, Algeria’s defence attaché, the Consul General of Algeria in New York, members of the Algerian diplomatic corps, and U.S. military and civilian authorities.

"I was very moved when I saw the ship in the port of New York," said Abdallah Baali, Algerian Ambassador to the United States. "It is truly a historic moment for us in New York and certainly for the crew and officers of the ship who came to the prestigious city of New York."

This call is part of the “Summer 2012” training programme, during which officer-trainees will receive practical on-the-ground training.

The visit by Soummam displays the increasing cooperation between the United States and Algerian navies. Earlier this year, Algeria hosted the combined maritime operations centre in Oran during Exercise Phoenix Express.

"The great thing about a country's navy is that a naval ship can be used for multiple purposes," said Captain Andy Lennon, the lead coordinator for the visit assigned to U.S. 6th Fleet headquarters. "It can be used in war and equally it can be used for diplomacy."

While the training mission is designed to instruct students on navigating the world's oceans, the port visit is also part of their training. According to Baali, a cultural and sports programme was developed to give the officer-trainees an opportunity to conduct exchanges with the U.S. Navy in order to better acquaint themselves with one of the world's largest navies and learn about its different services.

The cultural programme for the Algerian sailors included tours to various sites throughout the city, such as the United Nations, the Bronx Zoo and the 9/11 Memorial.

"We have all been very excited to visit New York," said Algerian Captain Mamia Mouzaoi. "It is a great opportunity to visit America, and the people have been very welcoming."

Showing their appreciation for the hospitality, Soummam also hosted a reception aboard the ship, allowing for greater interaction between the crew, U.S. Navy, and government officials.

"We are happy to have the Algerians here," said Terrence Holliday, New York City's Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs commissioner. "New York is a great city with a warm heart and a lot to see, we appreciate everything they bring here to make this city richer."

Throughout their visit, local U.S. Navy sailors from Navy Operation Support Center New York City and Naval Weapons Station Earle New Jersey have been readily available to show the Soummam crew around the city.

"We have U.S. Navy sailors travelling with them to all of the sites throughout the visit," said Lennon. "It allows us more opportunities to engage on a personal level, hopefully giving both nation's sailors a richer experience.

ANS Soummam was built in China and commissioned in 2006.

Algeria is in the process of expanding its navy in recent years as it faces problems such as smuggling, illegal migration and indigenous terrorism. These threats mainly affect Algeria's harbours and maritime communication routes and ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Consequently, the Algerian Navy maintains a well-trained and well-equipped fleet to provide security to more than 1000 km of coastline.

In May it emerged that Algeria had signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company for three light frigates, after ordering two Meko A-200N frigates from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

The three light frigates will be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. The vessels will displace around 2 800 tons fully loaded, and will be powered by MTU diesel engines.

On March 26 this year Algeria’s ministry of defence signed a contract with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for two Meko A-200 frigates with an option for two more, after a year of negotiations.

TKMS will supply two Meko A-200 frigates and six AgustaWestland Super Lynx helicopters under the €2 175 520 000 contract. According to Russia’s Periscope magazine, the ships will be armed with RBS 15 Mk III anti-ship missiles, Umkhonto IR surface-to-air missiles, Oto Melara and Rheinmetall guns and MU 90 torpedoes. The helicopters will be equipped with Mokopa air-to-ground missiles.

In the middle of last year it was announced that Algeria had signed a deal with Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation and state arms exporter Rosoboronexport for two new Tiger class corvettes. The Tiger corvette (Project 20382) is an export model of the Project 20380 Steregushchy class, which is the Russian Navy’s newest corvette class.

The vessel can be equipped with a variety of weaponry, including 100 or 76.2 mm guns, 14.5 mm machine guns, 533 mm torpedoes and a variety of surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles (e.g. P-800 Oniks, Uran-E or Yakhont). In addition, the vessels have capacity for a helicopter.

According to the IISS’s The Military Balance 2012, Algeria’s surface fleet comprises of three 1970s-era Koni class antisubmarine frigates, six corvettes, 22 patrol and coastal combat vessels, three amphibious vessels and three logistics and support ships.

In June 2006 Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Algerian Navy for the construction of two Project 636 Improved Kilo class submarines under a roughly US$400 million contract.

Construction of the first submarine started in 2006 and the second began in 2007. They were handed over to the Algerian Navy in March and September 2010 where they joined two Project 877EKM Kilo diesel electric submarines, which Algeria received in 1987-1988.

Russia is presently upgrading a Nanuchka II class corvette and a Koni II class frigate for the Algerian Navy and will hand them over in July. Algeria and the Severnaya Verf shipyard signed a contract in 2007 for the overhaul of three warships of each class. Russia delivered the first pair, consisting of a Project 1234E Nanuchka II class corvette (Rais Hamidou) and a Project 1159T Koni II class frigate (Mourad Rais), to Algeria in February 2011.