Argentina planning a “nuclear powered” submarine with conventional weapons

[Judi Lynn]

Monday, August 1st 2011 - 06:51 UTC
Argentina planning a “nuclear powered” submarine with conventional weapons

“President Cristina Kirchner has requested us to come up with a nuclear propulsion development project for our submarines” revealed Defence minister Puricelli during a conference. He added that Argentina has the “capacity to develop nuclear propulsion for submarines”.

“This means that when the submarine ARA Santa Fe, which has been waiting for some years leaves the shipyard she will not do it with its original propulsion but with nuclear propulsion developed in Argentina”, pointed out the Ministry in an official release following the minister’s announcement.

Puricelli also revealed that another submarine, ARA San Juan is already half re-furbished, “after spending years virtually idle and non operational”.

The Argentine project for a “Submarine with nuclear propulsion and conventional weapons” was actually launched a year ago when it was anticipated that Argentina was working on the possibility of developing a nuclear reactor to install in submarines.

More:
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/01/argentina-planning-a-nuclear-powered-submarine-with-conventional-weapons

[naaman fletcher]

1. a fairly dumb idea

done clearly for "national prestige" issues. Nuclear submarines are louder than conventional submarines. The only advantage that they offer is the ability to go a long distance for refueling. A country that only seeks to protect its territorial waters has no use for a nuclear powered sub.