Work on the first section of the first 209/1400 submarine for the South African Navy began late last month at the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG shipyard in Kiel, Germany. The submarine is part of a contract for three boats to be delivered by the German Submarine Consortium to the South African Navy between 2005 and 2007. The order is worth approximately 700 million Euro and is part of an order package which HDW, TNSW, Ferrostaal and the Government of South Africa signed in Pretoria on 3 December 1999.

The delivery of the three submarines is part of a comprehensive programme for the modernisation of the South African Navy. The submarines, being built at HDW in Kiel and at TNSW in Emden, are the most modern version of the conventional class 209 type 1400 MOD. Presently, 61 of these boats are in operation or under construction, respectively, in 13 countries world-wide. Apart from construction and delivery of the boats the consortium will supply training, logistic support, and simulation technology. The German Navy will support the training of the South African submarine crew.