MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Armada looks to UK

Chilean Navy Commander in Chief Admiral Miguel Angel Vergara said he was willing to discuss with the Royal Navy options for the Trident Program to replace most of the Chilean surface fleet.

Admiral Vergara remarks follow British Secretary of Defence Geoffery Hoon visit to Chile who anticipated the United Kingdom's desire of closer relations with Chile in trade, investments and defence. Britain has been a traditional supplier of equipment and technology to the Chilean Navy.

"If there's a formal offering we are most willing to discuss with the British Navy, with which we have close and long standing links and which we respect very much", indicated Admiral Vergara.

Chile is in the midst of a renewal program of its military equipment and just a few weeks ago purchased F 16 strike aircraft from the United States, an operation involving over 600 million US dollars.

However the Navy's procurement bill is almost a billion US dollars for the building of several German designed Meko Type frigates to replace the surface fleet.

But budget considerations have postponed the Trident Program, and the Chilean government is believed to be looking for other options.