UDT Europe 2017: Next-gen submarines on the horizon 31st May 2017 - 12:20 by Beth Maundrill in Bremen
The German Navy currently operates a fleet of U212A submarines but the service is now looking towards its next-generation of underwater craft.
The navy plans to add two submarines to its fleet that will fall under a new class of submarine, the U212 common design.
Various research and development projects are currently underway with a view to having the first submarine in 2025, according to Cpt Joachim Brune of the Germany Navy, speaking at UDT Europe in Bremen.
Brune outlined some of the ongoing efforts for the ongoing common design project, including new torpedoes, new battery technology and 3D anti-submarine warfare (ASW) technology.
The current U212As were manufactured by Thyssenkrupp.
The new design will have the same degree of automation as the current 212 platforms, the pursuit of increased automation is however aiming to reduce the number of crew required on the U212A which stands at 29.
An Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines will be integrated into the new design for defence against ASW helicopters and there is a desire to bring mine countermeasure capabilities on board the U212CD which were lost when the Type 206 submarine left service.
New lithium-ion battery technology will also be integrated which will provide more power with less maintenance.
This technology development extends to Germany’s partner nations, including Norway and Italy the latter of which operates U212As.
In March 2017 Italy and Germany signed a memorandum of understanding to further extend their cooperation on submarine technology. The two nations have a long standing history of cooperation with the U212A programme, the Italian Navy currently operates four U212A Todaro-class submarines.
Italy is looking at the 2020 timeframe for new submarines.
Speaking at UDT Europe, Cpt Maurizio Cannarozzo, a submarine programme officer with the Italian MoD, said ‘2020 is near so now is not the time to bet, it is the time to renew and upgrade.’
Italy is embarking on a New Future Submarine (NFS) programme which will look into various future technologies.
NFS will see the renewal of the Sauro class submarines, currently operated by the Italian Navy, with a one to one substitution with an estimated delivery time for the first two vessels in 2025-26.
Cannarozzo highlighted the Far Seas Project which was launched in 2010 and will provide new generation batteries for future submariners.
The preliminary cell tests for the Far Seas Project have been complete and the development is now in the advance stages with an estimated 18 months to complete functional prototypes.
Other technology improvements for the NFS include new coating materials, reduced fuel consumption, increased endurance, new optronic capabilities and the addition of unmanned vessels, AUV and UUVs.
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