A new €317 million deal will see the Italian Navy’s new U212 NFS boats upgraded with additional countermeasure systems and the subs’ construction programme brought forward.
As per a press statement from shipbuilder Fincantieri, it has signed an agreement with programme manager OCCAR to bring forward the delivery date for the final U212 NFS boat by two years to 2032.
This means the Italian Navy is now scheduled to take delivery of one new submarine every year from 2029 onwards. The deal will also see the boats fitted with additional countermeasure systems developed by WASS.
As per the Fincantieri statement: “The integration of the new WASS-developed countermeasure solutions, to be adopted for the first time aboard the Italy’s national submarines, represents a further step forward in enhancing the operational capabilities of the vessels while capitalizing on the technological and industrial expertise developed across the group.”
The amendment also offers an enhanced through-life support package for the four new boats being delivered to the Marina Militare Italiana under the U212 NFS programme, which is being run by European joint procurement and through-life management organisation OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement).
The new 59-metre NFS class is set to bring a significant step forward from the force’s existing U212A submarines, including enhanced stealth characteristics and improved resilience against cyber attacks.
A new lithium-ion propulsion battery will deliver improved performance, and the boats, which are being built at Fincantieri’s Muggiano yard, will also feature a new combat management system.
Each submarine will carry a crew of 29 sailors and is expected to be armed with torpedo-tube-launched cruise missiles and Leonardo’s Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedoes.
Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero commented: “The U212 NFS program showcases Fincantieri’s ability to integrate shipbuilding expertise, proprietary technologies and specialist know-how, drawing on the excellence developed across our companies and throughout the national industrial base.
“Bringing forward the delivery of the fourth submarine to 2032 demonstrates Fincantieri’s ability to translate innovation, industrial expertise and execution capability into tangible results.”
- You can read more details on the Fincantieri website and more about the NFS programme on the OCCAR website
