During 1969 the South African Navy ordered three French built Daphne class submarines to protect South African waters.  With the UN Arms embargo introduced in 1976, all plans to further upgrade the three submarines hit stormy waters and Project AGOSTA was cancelled in 1979.

In order to keep them in service, a local upgrade was carried out in 1985 which saw the addition of an integrated combat and sensor suite, refurbished fuel tanks & battery, including other mechanical and electrical systems. During 1992, the integrated combat and sensor suite received a further upgrade under Project NICKLES.

But the three Daphnes were reaching the end of their lifespan.  During 1995 Parliament approved the requirements to modernise the South African Navy.  During the same year the white paper on Defence was published, highlighting the current (at the time) shortcomings of amongst others, the Navy.  In 1996, the Defence review approved in principle, the acquisition of 4 frigates and 3 submarines. A request for proposal (RFP) went out in 1998.  Specific to the submarine project, the decision was made in the year 2000 to acquire 3 Type 209 (1400) submarines.  ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems of Germany was the successful bidder and work on the 1st submarine started soon after. 

S103 flanked by Fregattes