Colombian subs getting German periscopes

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OBERKOCHEN, Germany, March 18 (UPI) -- Colombian navy submarines undergoing overhaul and modernization are receiving new periscopes from Germany's Cassidian Optronics.

The periscopes are the company's SERO 250 search periscope, which features state-of-the-art sensors, including infra-red. The Sero 250 was specifically designed for the submarine refit market to replace legacy systems with minimal platform adaptation.

"This contract is the first in a series of contracts aimed at the final replacement of all current optical systems on board the existing Class 209 submarines of the Colombian Navy," Cassidian said. "These submarines were commissioned in 1975 and are now in an overhaul and upgrade phase."

German shipbuilding company HDW is conducting the overhaul and upgrades to the submarines and Cassidian said Colombian companies would be involved in activities to integrate the SERO 250s onto the vessels.

Cassidian Optronics was formerly known as Carl Zeiss Optronics.