On April 16, the Italian company Fincantieri and the German firm ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) announced the signing of a strategic industrial cooperation agreement to advance a joint offer of U212 NFS submarines to the Philippine Navy, which is currently working to modernize its capabilities through the Horizon III program. According to the official statement, the tense situation in the South China Sea calls for the incorporation of cutting-edge naval platforms, with the arrival of new submarines representing a major shift in the Philippines’ future defense strategies.
These two companies already share a long-standing history of cooperation in submarine construction, dating back to 1996 with the development of the first U212A units for the Marina Militare. Notably, the model being proposed to the Philippine Navy—the U212 NFS—was recently acquired by Rome due to its advanced stealth capabilities, which mark a significant improvement over its predecessors. Additionally, the necessary know-how and production infrastructure are already in place to prevent issues or delays in the delivery process.
Pierroberto Folgiero, current CEO and General Director of Fincantieri, stated: “With decades of experience in submarine construction, Fincantieri has developed a solid expertise in delivering high-performance naval solutions. This cooperation is a key milestone in promoting our international export strategy, leveraging the latest cutting-edge Italian and German technologies and quality.”
It is worth recalling that the Philippines has been seeking to acquire submarines for its Navy since 2012, in order to fulfill the requirements of its Revised Armed Forces Modernization Program. Horizon III represents the final phase of the long process initiated by Manila and is considered one of the most significant steps in shaping a defense network aimed at curbing China’s ambitions in the region, where both nations are engaged in territorial disputes. According to specialized media, over $34 billion has already been budgeted for the program (with $1.7 billion allocated for submarines), although the amount has so far proven insufficient to proceed with the acquisition of units due to the high costs of current proposals.
This was reflected in a 2024 interview at the ADAS defense exhibition, where Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci stated: “I hope we can have submarines in the future, but it is currently not a priority. We first need to strengthen our submarine detection systems, our anti-submarine warfare capabilities, our sensors, and even the naval shipyards that would need to maintain these submarines and our vessels.”
Finally, despite these considerations, it is worth noting that the partnership between Fincantieri and TKMS is not the only one vying for a potential Philippine Navy submarine contract. The Spanish firm Navantia, the French Naval Group, and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean are also in the running. The latter two have even received support from their respective governments to propose long-term financed acquisitions to appeal to the Philippines and help them overcome budgetary constraints in selecting a candidate.
Images used for illustrative purposes only
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Pag walang submarines for offensive weapons, what’s the use of detections, PH Navy may detect Chinese subs, but who can take them down? It’s also submarines, not the “frigates” as what you call them, ni walang sonars and dept charges to force submarines to surface? Patawa kau, kaya ayaw kumuha ng submarines ang PH kasi maraming attack dogs ang Commie China sa Senate who are protecting them from fundings what is supposed to be funded, attack submarines, that’s it.