Through a brief statement published on social media on December 12, Fincantieri announced that it has begun construction of the fourth of the new Type 212 NFS submarines that will equip the Italian Navy, which are intended to replace the aging Sauro class scheduled to be retired in the near future. According to the information released, the steel-cutting ceremony took place at the Muggiano shipyard, with the presence of senior representatives from the company, the Marina Militare, and OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation).
Regarding this milestone, Fincantieri stated through official channels: “This event marks the simultaneous production of four submarines, reflecting our role as design authority and prime contractor, and confirms our commitment to the development and implementation of cutting-edge technological solutions in line with the requirements of the Italian Navy.” In this regard, it should be recalled that Rome expects to receive its first two units in 2027 and 2029, marking the beginning of the formation of its new submarine fleet.
In particular, the manufacturer highlights that this class will stand out for incorporating a number of Italy-developed upgrades based on the original design used for its development, namely the German U212A submarines. Among its key features are the installation of a new air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, as well as improvements in stealth characteristics and underwater endurance thanks to new lithium-ion batteries, whose testing was completed in December of last year. In addition, the integration of a new Combat Information Center (CIC) is emphasized, along with the capability to deploy Leonardo’s Black Shark Advanced heavy torpedoes and cruise missiles.
In this way, the platform is expected to be capable of performing a wide range of missions and operating scenarios, ranging from the surveillance of territorial waters and maritime trade to missions demonstrating deterrence against potential threats. According to the Italian company: “The program also addresses the need to ensure effective surveillance and control of the underwater domain, in view of the growing complexity of future operational scenarios (…) providing platforms capable of supporting the monitoring of maritime communication routes and the underwater domain in general, including within the framework of NATO and the EU.”
On the other hand, in the specific case of this fourth Type 212 NFS submarine, it should be recalled that OCCAR issued the procurement order to Fincantieri in June of this year. For this purpose, including an extensive package of spare parts and technical support for the fleet of four submarines to be delivered to Italy, an amount of close to €500 million was invested.
Finally, it should not be overlooked that the construction of these submarines not only represents a major program for the Italian Navy, but also serves as a showcase of the shipyard’s ability to export the model to international customers. In this regard, it is worth noting that the Type 212 NFS is being considered for the Philippine Navy, promoted jointly by Fincantieri and the German company TKMS. Competing in the same process are South Korea’s KSS-III submarines built by Hanwha Ocean, as well as the French Scorpène class and Spain’s S-80 submarines.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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