Thomson-Marconi and Whitehead-Alenia are jointly developing towed sonar arrays for Italy's Sauro-class submarines. The first project will be a "clip on" array (which cannot be retracted as the arrays on US and Russian submarines can be); a reelable array will be developed for the Type-212 submarines.--Stephen V Cole

Canada has renamed the four British Upholder-class submarines it leased as the Victoria, Cornerbrook, Windsor, and Chicoutimi. HMS Victoria is to be based in Vancouver when it is delivered in May 2000, becoming the first Canadian submarine based in the Pacific in 25 years.--Stephen V Cole