Continuing its sustained naval modernization policy and increasing bilateral cooperation with Germany, Norway confirmed its decision to acquire two additional Type 212CD submarines from the shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The operation, announced days ago by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, raises the total number of units ordered to six, with an estimated cost close to 100 billion Norwegian kroner (around 9 billion dollars), consolidating one of NATO’s most ambitious submarine programs.
The new order adds to the original contract signed in 2021, when Norway commissioned the construction of four units, marking a milestone in German–Norwegian defense cooperation. The increase in cost reflects global inflation in raw materials and military equipment, in a context of growing demand within NATO derived from the Russia–Ukraine conflict. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence specified that the first submarine will be delivered in 2029, while the remaining units will enter service on a staggered basis throughout the following decade.
Construction of the new Type 212CD submarines officially began in September 2023 during a ceremony at the shipyard in Kiel, Germany, attended by the defence ministers of both countries. Based on the Type U212 design, they will feature air-independent propulsion (AIP), enhanced stealth capabilities, and advanced combat and sensor systems supplied by HENSOLDT and Kongsberg.
The acquisition plan is framed by the need to replace the veteran Ula class, which entered service between 1987 and 1992. These units, currently undergoing a modernization process led by HENSOLDT and Kongsberg, passed the Critical Design Review in 2024, ensuring their operability through the end of the decade. The life-extension program includes new optronic systems, periscopes, and sonars, in order to guarantee a seamless transition until the arrival of the Type 212CD submarines.
In addition to progress in construction, Germany and Norway agreed in December 2024 on the joint development of a new common heavy torpedo (CHWT) to equip the future 212CD-class submarines. This project, based on the technology of the current DM2A4, will be led by Atlas Elektronik (a TKMS subsidiary) with possible participation by Kongsberg, and will become the main weapons system of the submarine program. Its development reaffirms both countries’ commitment to strengthening joint industrial capabilities and ensuring interoperability within NATO.
The reinforcement of the Norwegian submarine fleet also responds to geostrategic considerations. Norway plays a key role in monitoring and controlling the North Atlantic, an area where the Russian Northern Fleet operates from the Kola Peninsula, adjacent to the Arctic. With these decisions, the government in Oslo seeks to strengthen its deterrent capacity and consolidate its role as a key actor in the defense of NATO’s northern flank.
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