Breaking news
Norwegian MoD submits RFI regarding submarine capability beyond 2020 to several shipyards.
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Naval Forces News - Norway |
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| Norwegian MoD submits RFI regarding submarine capability beyond 2020 to several shipyards | |||
Norwegian
Ministry of Defence has just made public the fact in submitted to many
shipyards a Request for Information regarding the purchase of a new
fleet of submarines. The Royal Norwegian Navy is looking to replace
its fleet of 6 Ula class submarines (U-Boot-Klasse 210) around the year
2020. A decision should be made around 2014. " Our current submarines will reach the end of their service life after 2020. I am therefore very pleased that the process that will eventually allow us to decide on how to best secure the continuation of a Norwegian submarine capability beyond this point is progressing according to schedule" said Norwegian Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. From 2007 to 2011 a study was carried out by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence to determine whether Norway would continue to have a requirement for a submarine capability after 2020. The study concluded that Norway indeed had such a requirement, and that no other system would be able to replace the capability that is offered by a modern fleet of submarines. A decision was therefore made to look for alternatives for maintaining a Norwegian submarine capability beyond 2020. A second process is now in motion that seeks to develop a basis for deciding between a further life extension of the current inventory, a replacement program, or a combination of the two. This process is expected to present its recommendations in 2014. The chosen solution will then form the basis for a project definition phase before any investment project is presented for the Norwegian parliament, which is planned to happen within 2017. "The strategic significance of maintaining an independent and unique submarine fleet is emphasized by both political and military leadership of the Armed Forces" said Mrs Strøm-Erichsen. |
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DCNS (France): Scorpene and Andrasta DCNS will likely offer the Scorpene SSK, a ~1,500 tons submarine already selected by Brazil, Chile, India and Malaysia. DCNS would also be able to offer the smaller Andrasta class, a ~900 tons SSK optimised for littoral operations, whilst maintaining the necessary strike force to protect national interests and to enforce sovereignty in blue waters. DCNS is also actively building the Barracuda class, the future class of nuclear-powered submarines for the French Navy. However, because of its nuclear propulsion system and large size, the likelyhood of DCNS offering this design to Norway is very slim. |
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 Class 212A Submarine |
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Fincantieri and TKMS would each be able to offer the Class 212A submarine, both shipyards having assembled the type in the past (2+2 units for Fincantieri and 4+2 units for TKMS). The Class 212A displaces ~1,450 and is the first submarine in the world to be equipped with an air-independent propulsion system as standard installation. Fincantieri is also currently offering the S1000, however this design is probably not going to be offered to Norway as it is a joint Italian-Russian project. |
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 Class 209 Submarine, ROK Navy Chang Bogo class (US Navy picture) |
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Korean Shipyard DSME, but also TKMS would each be able to offer the Class 209, a ~1,400 tons SSK successfully exported to 13 countries, with 61 submarines being built and commissioned between 1971 and 2008.. While the original design is of German origin DSME and TKMS shipyards have both competed against each other recently, with Indonesia eventually selecting the Korean shipyard to built and deliver 3 Class 209. DSME has just been selected to built a new 3,000 tons class submarine for the ROK Navy as we reported, however 3,000 tons displacement may too heavy for Norwegian requirements and this particular project may not be mature enough yet to be proposed by DSME. |
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 Kockums A26 (Picture: Kockums) |
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German Shipyard TKMS will probably offer its new Class 210mod to Norway. This small submarine displaces ~1150 tons. Its design was based on the Ula class submarine (currently in use with the Royal Norwegian Navy) for cost conscious navise wishing to operate littoral and deepwater missions. TKMS through its Swedish subsidiary Kockums AB will likely offer the new A26, a submarine designed mainly for littoral operations with ocean-going capabilities. It displaces ~1,800 tons. The German shipyard would also be able to offer its Class 214, a ~1,400 tons SSK already in use with the navies of Greece, South Korea, Portugal and Turkey. Finally TKMS may propose its large conventional submarine design, the Class 216, however at ~4,000 tons, this design may again be too large and heavy for Royal Norwegian Navy requirements. |
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 Navantia S-80 (Picture: Navantia) |
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Spanish shipyard Navantia would probably propose its S-80 class submarine. 4 units of this class displacing ~2,300 tons have been selected by the Spanish Navy. Request for Information The purpose of the RFI is to investigate investment cost, life cycle costs, production time, performance and other important aspects related to new submarines that in turn will shape a decision on life extension or fleet replacement. Responses to this RFI are expected by the end of this year. In parallel with the effort to better understand the different aspects related to the procurement of new submarines, the MoD project group is also working on identifying feasibility aspects, cost and uncertainties associated with a service life extension of the current Ula-class. External expertise, both domestic and international, has been engaged in producing inputs to this part of the process. |
