Peruvian Submarines Set to Receive New Static Converters

ECA Group said it has been awarded a contract under the Peruvian Navy’s submarine modernization program.

ECA Group signed a contract with the shipyard SIMA and the Peruvian Navy for the replacement of the 16 units of static converters 115V / 400Hz and 115V / 60Hz aboard four type-U209 v.1200 submarines: BAP Angamos (SS 31), BAP Antofagasta (SS 32), BAP Pisagua (SS 33) and BAP Chipana (SS 34).

Peru decided to upgrade four of its Type 209 submarines in 2015 and commenced the nearly seven years long modernization program in 2017.

The modernization work, which includes hull separation and modernizing or replacing the command and control systems, will allow the Peruvian Navy to keep its current submarine force for another 15 years as it works toward the planned acquisition of new generation submarines around 2035.

ECA Group said its static converters are installed aboard several French submarines and have also been supplied to other navies in Southeast Asia.

The company’s converters provide local and remote control and monitoring and have been designed with electrical and thermal protections for equipment and operator safety.

ECA Group has designed static converter 20KVA-400 HZ and 60HZ for submarines, which are engineered to replace existing rotary converters. The advantage of this solution is that it fits in existing submarine interfaces and it can be dismantled into several sub-assemblies for an easier submarine integration.