Fincantieri in Italy and Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems have teamed up to provide the Philippine Navy with advanced submarines. The companies will deliver a solution based on the U212 Near Future Submarine (U212 NFS), which Fincantieri is currently building for the Italian Navy.
The Italian and German Navies, and Italian and German industry, have collaborated on versions of the U212 submarine, such as the U212A Todaro-class submarines built for Italy, since 1996, and want to extend their longstanding partnership to include potential joint export projects.
The U212 NFS is an evolution of the U212A with low acoustic and magnetic signatures. Should it opt to build the U212 NFS, the Philippine Navy would gain a significant advantage through the use of air independent propulsion technology first introduced on the U212A, and now integrated into the U212 NFS. The design also uses Amanox non-magnetic steel and other technology intended to make it difficult to detect.
A distinguishing feature of the U212 NFS offering from the companies is operational support provided by the Italian Navy, ensuring that the Philippine Navy benefits from a high level of training and logistics.
Oliver Burkhard, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, says: “Building on our successful cooperation in the Italian submarine programme, this agreement provides an excellent foundation for further joint projects in the underwater domain.”
