The World : Saudis to Buy Submarines

Saudi Arabia is planning to establish a submarine fleet, a move that would make it the Middle East’s dominant naval force by the mid-1990s, Jane’s Defense Weekly reported. The Saudi government has approached six European nations to supply between six and eight submarines at a cost of up to $2.9 billion, the authoritative British defense magazine said. Britain is expected to offer its Upholder submarine, designed mainly for North Atlantic operations, and France, West Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands are also submitting proposals, Jane’s said.