Fincantieri starts construction of the first Italian U212NFS submarine.

According to a press release published by Fincantieri on January 11, 2021, production activities for the first of 2 new-generation submarines, as part of the U212NFS (Near Future Submarine) acquisition program of the Italian Navy, started at the Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard.
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Artist rendering of the future U212NFS (Picture source: OCCAR)

The program, which also envisages relevant in-service support, an option for 2 additional units, as well as the creation of a Training Center, is led by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matiere d’Armement, the international organization for joint armament cooperation), in line with the most innovative management procedures, through-life management, and risk management.

The project is an evolution of the U212A program carried out in cooperation with the German thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which resulted in the production of 4 submarines for Italy – “Todaro”, “Scirè”, “Venuti” and “Romei”, delivered by Fincantieri between 2006 and 2017 – and 6 for Germany.

According to highly reliable analyses, the technological content of these air-independent propulsion submarines determined the shift in the balance between nuclear and conventional vessels in the postwar period.

The new submarines will be highly innovative, with significant design modifications which will all be developed independently by Fincantieri.

The U212NFS program, which envisages the first two deliveries in 2027 and 2029, responds to the need to secure adequate underwater spatial surveillance and control capacity, considering the future complex scenarios of underwater operations and that the operational lifetime of the 4 “Sauro” class submarines, currently in service, is drawing near.

It also aims at upholding and further developing Fincantieri’s acquired strategic and innovative industrial know-how, as well as consolidating the technological lead attained by the company and its supply chain, major industries, and small and medium-sized enterprises of the sector, enhancing the presence on board of technologically advanced component parts developed by Italian industries.

The German Type 212 class (U212), also known as the Italian Todaro class, is a diesel-electric submarine developed by the German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) for the German and Italian navies. Currently, four Type 212 submarines are in service with the Italian Navy and six with the German Navy.

The Type U212 NFS Todaro Class Batch-III (Near Future Submarine) is a development of Type-212A. The submarine is equipped with fuel cell Air Independent Power (AIP) with Lithium-Ion batteries of Italian production, which makes them among the most stealthy submarines anywhere.