Re: "Navy may take sub engines from China", (BP, Aug 10).
Our navy should stand firm on its contract agreement that our sub's engine "must already be in active use by any nation" -- rather than take the unproven model that the Chinese are pushing on us. China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co already voided our contract with them because the German makers refused to install their engine in our sub, and now they're foisting an engine which nobody has used on us. Evidently, the only other country that might buy CSOIC's engine is Sri Lanka -- which will default due to lack of funds.
Yes, the RTN will test the engine thoroughly before accepting it -- but that's nowhere comparable to large-scale usage from active duty by a naval power. I note that of its 46 diesel-powered subs, China's not trusting any of them to the CSOIC model they're urging on us. We're not the world's guinea pig for sub engines. Stick with the agreement to use only what's tried and true.
