MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Second submarine for Chilean Navy.

The second Chilean submarine specially built by a Franco-Spanish consortium in Cartagena, Spain will be officially named this Wednesday with the participation of the Chilean Minister of Defence, Navy Commander and other high ranking military officers.

SS-2 "Carrera", as its twin "O'Higgins" belongs to the Scorpene Class and is scheduled to arrive in Chile during 2006. The contract for the construction of the two submarines was decided in 1997 as part of an overall plan to update the country's submarine force, two former Oberon Class submarines that were decommissioned after thirty years service.

According to Chilean naval authorities the SS-2 "Carrera" has important technological innovations such as an integrated propulsion system and an integrated combat system which includes acoustic and non acoustic elements such as infra-red detection and tracking.

"This is magnificent state of the art dissuasive weapon", said Defence Minister Jaime Ravinet.

"With the two new submarines and the refurbished surface fleet the Chilean Navy will be able to protect the country's territorial waters and our EEZ", added Admiral Miguel Angel Vergara, Commander in Chief of the Navy.

The other submarine "O'Higgins" is currently undergoing sea trials along the French coast, before she leaves for Chile.