Fincantieri submarines, all about the new contract for the Navy
Occar announced the signing of a contract with Fincantieri for the construction of a third U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) submarine, also for the Italian Navy. The deepening of Giovanni Martinelli
This end of 2022, evidently, was rather "bubbly" for Fincantieri and for its Defense sector. In fact, within a few days a series of events that were nothing short of important took place, both for the present and for the future of the Italian shipbuilding group.
On 17 December, the signing of an agreement with ONEX Shipyards & Technologies Group first arrived, aimed at the creation of a production and maintenance line for corvettes (but with possible further future developments) at the Elefsis shipyards. With everything to be included, of course, in the competition for the new corvettes for the Hellenic Navy. A tender between Fincantieri itself and the French Naval Group, the outcome of which was expected by the end of this year but which instead has been postponed to the first months of 2023.
On December 22, a double piece of news arrived. In fact, on the same day, the Italian shipbuilding group announced the delivery of the third (out of a total of 4) Al Zubarah class corvette to the Qatari Navy; at the same time communicating the successful signing of the contract with the General Secretariat of Defense / National Armaments Directorate for the construction of the future Major Hydro-Oceanographic Ship (NIOM), destined for the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy.
But in the midst of these 2 passages another occurred, which did not receive the same echo as the previous ones but which is certainly no less relevant; rather. This time it was Occar (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement) who announced the signing of a contract with Fincantieri for the construction of a third U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) submarine, again for the Italian Navy (and without specifying the value).
Before continuing, a quick step back; to better understand the context. The program in question concerns the supply to our Armed Forces of a total of 4 underwater boats. The first 2 were the subject of an initial contract signed on 26 February 2021 (worth €1.35 billion), including an option for 2 more submarines. What has just happened on 17 December last therefore represents the first "step" for its completion in the numbers foreseen by the Navy.
At present it is not known when the option will also be exercised for the fourth U212 NFS; a step that will certainly also be dictated by the availability of funds. However, what is important to highlight is that the program is in any case proceeding according to timing that allows production continuity for the sites involved; the first submarine (already set up) is in fact expected to be delivered in January 2027 , the second 2 years later and the third in May 2030. From this point of view, it is therefore reasonable to hypothesize (also in the light of growing resources for the defense budget) that this fourth vessel will be contracted shortly; with possible delivery in June 2031.
Last note of a general nature, the choice by our country to have this same program managed by the OCCAR. A somewhat "unusual" choice, insofar as this organization is usually involved in the management of programs of a multinational nature. In reality, in the end there is a logic; that is, to offer a sort of wider "visibility", also in view of possible collaborations with other countries and, above all, with a view to possible exports of the product.
The latter theme that leads us directly to one of the main "drivers" along which the U212 NFS "chapter" is developing. Our country, in fact, having finished the experience of the Sauro boats of national production in the early 2000s, turned to Germany to renew its underwater component. A production agreement under license was thus signed by the German shipyards of the Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) group for 4 U212A class boats; of the same type as those already under construction for the German Navy.
An important choice on the one hand because it allowed various Italian companies (Fincantieri in primis) to stay connected to the world of underwater products. But with some limits on the other because, in fact, the content of the national industry itself ended up being limited.
These considerations, combined with the operational need of the Navy to replace the last 4 boats of the Sauro class still in service, have thus led to the current path represented by the U212 NFS; that will become submarines with a much higher Italian content and which will be built according to the specific needs of the Armed Forces.
So much so that these new boats will differ (not a little) from the previous ones. According to the information released so far, the NFS will be characterized by a hull 1.2 meters longer than the A; the length will therefore reach 59 meters, with a maximum diameter of 7. The displacement on the surface is indicated as 1,600 tons and consequently that under water should be around 1,900.
Those in question are thus non-trivial modifications; in the sense that thanks to them and to a general re-design, the result will be larger submarines (therefore, with more space for the systems and for the same crew, set at around 29 men), quieter and also capable of accommodating a sail bigger (therefore equipped with more sensors).
From the point of view of propulsion, an element of great importance on an underwater boat, the NFS will maintain the scheme of the A. Therefore, a diesel engine used for recharging the batteries to power the propulsion electric motor; with the latter which, in turn, can also be powered by the AIP (Air Independent Propulusion) system centered on the "fuel cell". Unaltered scheme yes but the novelty is still there; because the traditional lead-acid batteries will be replaced by others (of national production) much more performing of the "Lithium-iron-phosphate" type.
Starting from the third vessel then, a new AIP system could be introduced; also of national production. Significantly, no information has been released as to performance; speed and range of these boats are in fact a "secret" because parameters considered sensitive precisely in the light of the planned innovations.
Another important aspect is that represented by the 2 systems that constitute the "brain" and the heart" of the submarine; the Combat Management System (CMS) and the ”Integrated Platform Control System (IPCS). Both will be developed by Leonardo (another big news) and the first will guarantee the management of all functions related to combat (with the integration of sensors, especially underwater, and weapons) and the second those related to platform management.
Issue of weapons that cannot fail to be addressed above all in a future key; in fact, while the NFS will in any case still be equipped with the current heavy Black Shark torpedoes, the possible novelty of tomorrow could also be launched from the same 6 533 mm torpedo tubes, the long-range "cruise" missiles (also for attacking targets deep earthlings). A truly necessary capability for our Military Instrument (as evidenced by the very top of the Armed Forces) and already identified also at a political level; whose definitive integration would thus make these U212 NFS operational assets even more complete (and fearsome for the adversaries).
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/sottomarini-fincantieri-tutto-sul-nuovo-contratto-per-la-marina/ on Wed, 28 Dec 2022 08:57:33 +0000.