>Papanikolis To Be Commissioned in 15th October 2010

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In Greek internet news portals and blog are correct then, Greek Navy will commission its first Type 214 class submarine HS Papanikolis on 15th October 2010, after ten years of the signing of her contract. Her sisters will follow Papanikolis in 18, 28 and 38 months intervals.

On 30th September, TKMS the maker of the submarine, Abu Dhabi Mar the owner of the biggest naval yard in Greece and the Greek government ratified an agreement to settle all remaining disputes of Archimedes and Neptune 2 programs.

Archimedes program covered the construction of 4 Type 214 AIP submarines and Neptune 2 program covered the conversion of 3 existing Type 209 class submarines with AIP. The details of these and the problems experienced are well documented here and here.

With the new contract Greek government pledged to pay 1.321 million euros to the TKMS and Abu Dhabi Mar for the outstanding debts and ordered 2 more Type 214 class submarines.

The unit cost of the 5th and 6th Type 214 class submarines is 500 million euro each. This is almost the double what Greek government paid for the first, four Type 214’s. The average unit cost of these submarines was 375 million euro.

1.321 million euro is quite a lot of money in a time when the Greek government is trying hard to sell its austerity reforms in country. It seems that the rumors about the strings attached to German and French economic aids to Greece were true.