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Saudi Arabia, UAE Eye Fincantieri Submarine Acquisitions; Achille Fulfaro Comments

IngallsShipItalian shipbuilder Fincantieri plans to hold submarine acquisition talks with government customers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Defense News reported Sunday.

Awad Mustafa writes Saudi Arabia also wants to purchase more than a dozen German-built Type 209 submarines worth $3.4 billion combined.

German newspaper Bild originally reported the details of that transaction.

Achille Fulfaro, Fincantieri Middle East naval executive and general manager of Etihad Ship Building, said the two countries will assess small- to medium-sized submarines, according to Defense News.

“With the experience of the Italian navy and with the existing cooperation with the UAE, we can create a program for the development of small submarines, ” Fulfaro said.

Fulfaro also said the potential order could be for submarines weighing between 300 and 1, 000 metric tons, according to the report.

Mustafa writes that Fincantieri plans to develop the fleet at the Abu Dhabi-based facilities of Etihad, a joint venture with Al Fattan Shipyard and Melara Middle East.

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