Among the ships of the Navy, only submarines are typical offensive weapons, and they are recognized by the international community and no country has questioned them.

Quite simply, in defensive operations, submarines are simply useless.

It can be said that from the day of its birth, submarines existed for sneak attacks, for attacks.

For more than a hundred years, submarines have also played the role of attackers on the battlefield.

It is that in the predominantly defensive Navy, there is basically no place for submarines.

Of course, this statement is problematic in itself.

A real navy obviously exists for the sake of attack, and the so-called defensive navy does not exist at all, or is not a navy at all.

Over the past decades, the Saudis have pursued a security policy of relying on the United States, so in naval construction, submarines have never been considered.

Of course, whether in the Persian Gulf or in the Red Sea, there is really no battlefield for submarines.

It's too narrow!

Iran has formed its own submarine force and has also purchased several more advanced submarines from Russia, which are also mainly used in the direction of the Arabian Sea.

In fact, even from a future perspective, there is no need for Saudi Arabia to have submarines.

It's just that, in the eyes of Crown Prince Mohammed, only with submarines can the Royal Saudi Navy be regarded as a real navy.

As a result, during negotiations with Huaxia, Saudi Arabia joined the project to purchase six submarines.

Initially, Huaxia did not think about selling submarines to Saudi Arabia.

After all, submarines are too threatening, and in that waterhole in the Persian Gulf, submarines are difficult to function and may not be able to serve as much as they should.

According to the advice given by the Chinese authorities, if Saudi Arabia is worried about the threat from Iran, it can purchase anti-submarine ships, such as frigates, or buy anti-submarine helicopters and anti-submarine patrol aircraft, instead of equipping submarines like Iran, after all, it is a bit more cost-effective.

Why?

The cost of using and maintaining submarines is too high.

In addition, submarines are by no means cheap.

If the unit price is calculated in tons, submarines are definitely the most expensive ships.

Relatively speaking, except for sneak attacks, the combat efficiency of submarines is far inferior to that of any kind of surface ships, and their use is relatively simple.

Take a 4,000-ton large conventional submarine as an example, generally can only carry less than 30 torpedoes and missiles, self-sustaining power between 60 and 90 days, even equipped with AIP system, the diving time is about 20 days, the same 4,000-ton frigate, generally equipped with 32 vertical launch tubes, some have two sets for 8 anti-ship missiles, a medium-caliber artillery, one or two sets of close defense systems, one or two anti-submarine helicopters, self-sustaining power between 60 days and 120 days.

It can be seen that with the same tonnage, surface warships carry several times more weapons than submarines.

It is for this reason that Huaxia suggested that Saudi Arabia purchase several frigates.

Of course, Saudi Arabia did adopt Huaxia's suggestion, that is, to purchase 8 Type 054B frigates, but still did not give up the idea of purchasing submarines.

After difficult negotiations, Huaxia finally agreed to Saudi Arabia's purchase request, that is, six Type 041 submarines.

You know, this is the most advanced conventional submarine owned by Huaxia.

Compared with the previous Type 039B, 041 is not only a redesigned new submarine, but also the first to use the fuel cell AIP system independently developed by Huaxia, although the tonnage has been reduced, the underwater displacement is less than 3000 tons, but the combat effectiveness is a grade higher than that of 039B.

Why?

The key is the fuel cell AIP system.

This system can be said to be unique to Huaxia, and there is absolutely no second one in the world, because this is a fuel cell that directly uses light fuel oil!

It stands to reason that fuel cells are the most ideal AIP system.

It's just that, after its birth, fuel cells were far less popular than Stirling engines.

The point is, hydrogen is too cumbersome to produce and store, takes up a lot of space, and is dangerous to use on submarines.

In response to this problem, Huaxia spent more than 20 years to develop the world's first fuel-fired fuel cell.

With this system, the Type 041 is capable of submersible for 28 days, or 4 weeks, at a speed of 8 knots, which is twice as long as most AIP submarines.

In addition, the proportion of fuel cells on the Type 041 is much lower than that of the Stirling engine.

In other words, if the displacement is appropriately increased and the liquid oxygen on board is increased, the Type 041 can also further improve the underwater endurance.

Theoretically, the Type 041 can always be concealed during the 60-day deployment cycle.

Of course, the price is very high.

That is, the displacement had to be increased to more than 4,500 tons, and all the increased tonnage was used to increase fuel cells and liquid oxygen.

In addition, 28 days of underwater endurance is more than enough.

Relying on this fuel cell system, the Type 041 can be said to be the most advanced conventional submarine today, and it is also the most sought-after best-selling product in the international market.

Before Saudi Arabia, Pakistan had ordered four Type 041s from Huaxia, and planned to build four of its own to replace the Agsta 90B imported from France.

A few years later, with the Type 041 all in place, the Pakistan Navy's submarines will all be Chinese-built.

In addition, Thailand has also become a user of 041, ordering 3 ships at once.

Bangladesh in South Asia is also considering importing two Type 041s to replace the Type 035 originally acquired from Huaxia and maintain the size of its submarine force.

In addition, Indonesia, which is in Southeast Asia, is also considering whether to import Type 041.

In addition, at least ten countries have expressed strong interest in Type 041.

In fact, this is also the main reason why Saudi Arabia is interested in Type 041.

The fact that so many countries have procured and are preparing to purchase Type 041 is enough to prove that Type 041 is a very good submarine, and the price is not too expensive.

Of course, for the Saudis, the first consideration is certainly not the price.

It's just that the Type 041 exported to Saudi Arabia is also special, to be precise, some restrictions are made, such as the inability to use submarine-launched anti-ship missiles.

In addition, Huaxia did not supply submarine-launched anti-ship missiles to Saudi Arabia.

As compensation, Huaxia sold the latest torpedoes to the Saudis.

To put it simply, these six Type 041 ships are mainly anti-submarine, and their anti-ship and ground strike capabilities are very limited, and they basically cannot be used to carry out the mission of striking the enemy's mainland.

Saudi Arabia did not object to this.

Very simply, Saudi Arabia's purchase of these 6 submarines is actually to deal with Iranian submarines.

The purchase of submarines coincided with an agreement with Oman to lease a port in the Arabian Sea to deploy submarines.

In the end, Saudi Arabia paid $15 billion for the six Type 041s.

Counting destroyers and frigates, Saudi Arabia has invested $48 billion in the navy at one time, of which $42 billion is a direct order with China.