Venezuela intends to buy Russian submarines

Venezuela intends to consider buying Russian Amur-class submarines, the country's Navy said. Vice Admiral Jose Laguna, the Navy's commander-in-chief, will discuss this issue during his upcoming visit to Russia.

Laguna intends to go to sea onboard an Amur-class diesel-electric submarine to inspect its tactical and technical characteristics.

Venezuela is set to buy three new generation submarines to replace German Type 209 submarines. Venezuela is holding a tender on the purchase of submarines. German Type 212/214 submarines and French-Spanish Scorpio submarines are also bidding for the tender.

Vice Admiral Laguna said the Venezuelan Navy would choose a submarine that has the best tactical and technical characteristics and is easy to train personnel.

Amur-class submarines have the new Club-S antiship weapon system. This system enables the submarine to fire Club-S missiles, as well as torpedoes, from ten torpedo tubes in the bow, RIA Novosti reports.