Type 212
For NATO members, Italy, Norway and Germany are launching a new submarine-powered submarine (SSK) program for the development of healthy submarines in the traditional submarine market.
All of these countries are developing 212 SSK designs for their navies. While the Norwegian-German program is testing the first joint SSK construction program through the initial stages, Italy has launched a domestic SSK.
Italy’s Near Future Submarine (NFF) program, which begins this month, marks the first step in the construction of the first U212NFS hive and finally the return to the SQ market in Italy.
The SSK’s export market is controlled by France and Germany, with their fleet – Navy Group and Tyson Cruise Marine Systems (TKMS) – constantly selling their designs. The second level suppliers include South Korea, Sweden and Russia, which have won significant contracts.
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is delivering the current 212 submarines – four NFS boats to the Italian Navy. Fincantieri has previously partnered with TKMS to build four U212A SSKs for the Italian Navy.
But in this case, Fincantieri will play the role of the main contractor and design authority for the U212NFS program, including the physical and practical integration of both building construction and combat and platform systems and sub-systems.
Unlike U212A submarines, all engineering is built by Fin cantieri and the combat system is led by Italy. This will not only increase the national content of the future submarine program, but also give autonomy to the underwater sector, which will allow the Italian industry to re-enter the global market, ”Finncantiri’s spokesman told UNI News. .
The U212NFS program is in the process of evaluating system requirements, at which point the design configuration will be frozen with performance and technical specifications. At the same time, Fincantieri is developing a practical design that provides additional details and requirements, tools and interfaces.
Will be part of the final design Critical design review by June 2022. The first U212NFS launch is expected in 2026, and should be completed by the end of 2027. The second boat follows the same production drum a year later.
According to Fincantieri, the U212NFS has more capabilities compared to the original U212, including improved hydrodynamic efficiency and fuel storage capacity, including durability improvements. Lithium-ion batteries are equipped with an air-cooled AIP system to improve performance.
Changes to the cooling system also allow for work in tropical areas. It is also equipped with a multi-sensor digital Sonar system and a set of air sensors.
The first pair of boats will replace the Italian Navy’s two old Sauro-class (Bach 3) SSKs in the 1980s, and the second pair will replace the two 1990s harvest boats.
The U212NFS project will be considered the starting point for the National Submarine Project. The NFS boats will serve as a “test for the Italian industry” in the supply of submarines, the spokesman said.
“With this idea in mind, we are working to integrate a new fuel cell system in the 3 degree boat that covers the supply of the Italian IP system,” the spokesman said, adding that the next step is to fully develop the Italian submarine. And technical concepts.
The spokesman added that “each property must integrate unmanned systems that can achieve its goal of” over the horizon “risk assessment capabilities.
Elsewhere in Europe, another type of 212 program is violating boundaries. Norway and Germany are launching their first SSK joint venture between countries with the new 212CD. The Royal Norwegian Navy (RNN) will receive four boats and the Federal German Navy (FGN) two.
A 5.5 million euro ($ 6.5 billion) TKMS contract was signed in July 2021. Since then, both the German BAAINBw Procurement Executive and the Norwegian Defense Materials Agency (NDMA) have been developing the teams and equipment needed to build this part of the ship – more than any other SCK previously operating in any country.
According to BAAINBw and NDMA, they will complete the design before construction begins in 2023.
Both Norwegian and German staff work at the Kell Joint Program Office, merging two existing national project teams into two national joint teams to support the design and construction stages.
Meanwhile, Norway is investing NOK 3 billion ($ 350 million) in a new government maintenance facility in Hakonsver to support the six boats. It also has a 212CD Lifetime Management Project office for staff in both countries.
“The foundations of the new compound have already been completed, and the entire facility will be operational when the first submarine is delivered,” said a spokesman for the Norwegian program. This is expected to happen in 2029, with a delay in the first day of 2026, which has been driven by changes in requirements, negotiations with contractors and COVID-19 restrictions.
“The most important thing is that this is not just a recovery program. This is the first time that two countries have agreed to work together as a submarine in a complex capacity. “By developing this partnership, we have identified a number of issues in areas such as the scope of the contract and financial support before making such a joint commitment,” the spokesman said.
Type 212CD replaces the Ula-class SSKs in the RNoN service.
According to Stein Surbubi, project manager at ADPA for 212CD project actor, 212CD allows for a completely new approach to the operation of Omar-class ships. , Told USNI News.
No further details were available, but Surbub added: “The 212C submarine will be unique in combining the subtle features of the 212A with conventional diesel electric and IP submarine designs.