Europe leads the conventional submarine segment

Last July, the German and Norwegian procurement agencies awarded tkMS a contract for respectively four and two new Class U212CD submarines to be delivered by 2029. © tmKS

By Luca Peruzzi

The race to face the emerging underwater threat in most world regions with new submarine procurement and upgrading programmes by both established and emerging worldwide naval forces, together with the introduction of new technologies and systems to counter the underwater threat, are influencing both navies’ requirements and the response of European shipbuilders and systems developers of conventional underwater platforms, which solutions continue to master the market.

The U212 family enlarges

The advanced operationally proven Class 212A AIP design developed by the German industry headed by HDW, today thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS), which formed the basis of the joint German-Italian construction, delivery and support programme headed by Fincantieri on the Italian side, has evolved towards the larger and more capable new generation Class U212CD (Common Design) platform to respond to German and Norwegian navies requirements. Last July, the two countries’ MoD procurement bodies awarded to tkMS a contract for respectively two and four Class U212CD submarines equipped with a new combat management system (CMS) developed and provided by the new kta Naval Systems joint venture, equally owned by Kongsberg and tkMS through its Atlas Elektronik subsidiary, plus additional logistic and training for an overall € 5.5 billion value. Construction of the new submarines will start in 2023 and delivery

The new Class U212 CD submarines for the German and Norwegian navies will be equipped with the new generation ORCCA CMS developed and provided by the kta Naval Systems joint venture, which became exclusive provider also for tkMS submarines. © kta Naval Systems

to the Norwegian Navy is planned as early as 2029, while German Navy will follow in 2032. According to the few released dimensional data, with a displacement of 2,500 tonnes on surface, a length and beam of around respectively 73 and 10 meters, and a height of 13 meters, the new Type U212CD will be significantly heavier and larger and capable of worldwide operations compared to the U212A (1,450 tonnes, 56, 7 and 11.5 meters). The new platform will have a significant target echo strength (TES) reduction due to the unique diamond shape design despite new enhanced sonar location technologies, a proven fuel cell air independent propulsion providing several weeks of submerged range with no additional signatures, and a unique non-magnetic design, making it invisible for upcoming MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) sensors. These enhancements also satisfy the technical and operational requirements of the Royal Netherlands Navy and of other potential worldwide customers. The new submarines are also expected to have an enhanced fire power capability, including Atlas Elektronik DM2A4 Mod 4 fully digital Heavy Weight Torpedoes (HWTs), while no information was provided on underwater-to-surface anti-ship/land attack weapons although the platform dimensions would be compatible with a vertical launch system (VLS) module, alongside optimized special forces support. The new ORCCA combat management system, being developed and delivered by the kta Naval Systems joint venture, will be able to process more sensor data than ever before. This gives the crew an increased situational awareness and, at the same time, an enhanced ability for networking with allied units, according to tkMS. The ORCCA is expected to manage a sensors

The Fincantieri-led industrial team including Leonardo, Elettronica, Seastema, Avio Aero, L3Harris Calzoni and other Italian companies for the combat and platform systems is developing an evolved version of the U212A design to be delivered in four boats from late 2027. © Fincantieri Leonardo will develop, provide and integrate a combat management system for the U212 NFS programme, which derives from the 4th generation SADOC CMS equipping the new surface combatant platforms under delivery to the Italian Navy. © NATO Photo by FRAN WO Valverde

and weapon package including a full suite of non-penetrating and optronic masts, advanced surveillance electronics and communications systems, together with an evolved integrated sonar suite which is expected to be based on solutions coming from Atlas Elektronik and Kongsberg. tkMS will also ensure synergies for operation, logistics and maintenance, increasing platform availability and reducing in-service costs. The German Navy also became the sixth nation to acquire the Kongsberg NSM (Naval Strike Missile) and further missile developments are expected between the two MoDs.

Fincantieri-led U212 NFS

Last February, the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) agency awarded a € 1.35 billion contract to the Fincantieri group for the first tranche of two boats (with options for additional two), a submarine training centre plus initial support under the Italian Navy U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) programme. It includes the design, construction, delivery, in-service support of four submarines based on an evolved U212A AIP design by Fincantieri with unprecedented level of national industry content, the delivery of the first two boats being planned respectively in late 2027 and early 2029. Characterized by a 1.2 meters longer hull and a hydrodynamically enhanced and further quieter platform, with an AIP propulsion system including a new energy storage and management system based on Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries to be provided under a development, prototyping and certification programme assigned by Fincantieri to the FIB Italian company as a follow-on to the Far Seas R&D project. The U212 NFS will feature a newly designed integrated platform control system (IPCS) and combat and sensors suite, that allow reducing the crew to about 29 complements. The new IPCS is provided by Fincantieri Seastema, Avio Aero providing the steering and diving control system, the combat management system (CMS) being provided by Leonardo, which derives from the fourth generation of the so-called SADOC CMS for the new surface combatant platforms under delivery to the Italian Navy. Based on an open and modular architecture which ensures easy integration of third-party software applications (i.e. bistatic sonar detection), remote computing, extensive acoustic processing know-how and submarine mission specific applications (i.e. enhanced real time periscope video processing), the CMS will be installed in a state-of-the-art more spacious combat information centre positioned under a longer sail. The latter accommodates a suite of non-penetrating electrically hoisted masts excepting the new generation penetrating attack periscope, all provided by L3Harris Calzoni, including the surveillance optronic mast and, together with GEM Elettronica, the low probability of intercept radar. The new CMS will manage state-of-the-art communications, sensors and weapons suites including SATCOM (UHF and X-band) and datalinks from Leonardo, the newly designed RESM/CESM suite by Elettronica, and an open architecture fully equipped sonar suite. Being integrated by Leonardo, it includes underwater equipment by ELAC Sonar, based on a contract announced last July, as well as other undisclosed suppliers. The U212NFS CMS is fitted with a larger panoply of weapons and payloads; it is equipped with the Leonardo Black Shark Advanced (BSA) torpedo developed for the Italian Navy, and is fitted for the deployment of deep-strike weapon systems for “over the horizon” engagement and unmanned underwater vehicles integration, which will allow to gain a comprehensive underwater situational awareness being the main node of an underwater network that will extend the boat overall surveillance capability.

Naval Group Scorpene family

Naval Group continues to reach new milestones in the export designed Scorpene’s production and technology transfer programmes for Brazil and India, while looking to new local and international markets, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, where it opened representation offices. Originally developed with Spanish Navantia for the export market and sold to Malaysia, Chile, India and Brazil, the Scorpene

The Naval Group Scorpene family of conventional diesel-electric submarines has been sold and is in service with Malaysian, Chilean, Indian and soon Brazilian navies, while being promoted in other countries such as Indonesia and Philippines. © Naval Group

Naval Group is promoting and working on the evolution of the SUBTICS (Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System) suite with advanced combat information center layout. © Naval Group

family design is today characterized by a surface displacement of 1,600-2,000-tonnes, an overall length of 66-82 meters and a crew of 25-44, alongside a conventional diesel-electric propulsion providing 20+ knots submerged speed with option for an AIP system. Under the Indian-French governments agreement and the follow-on P-75 contract signed in 2005 for the construction of six Scorpene submarines with an extensive transfer of technology and skills, indigenous supply chain establishment and local shipbuilding process at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) shipyard by Naval Group, the former delivered the third Kalvari-class submarine last February to the Indian Navy, while the remaining boats are in different stage of sea trials and outfitting. With a 67.5 meters length, a surface/submerged displacement of 1,615/1,775 tonnes and a standard crew of 31, the Kalvari-class Scorpene boats are equipped with Naval Group SUBTICS and Thales S-Cube acoustic suite and Safran masts, and are armed with MBDA SM39 Exocet Block 2 Mod 2 ASMs and initially Atlas Elektronik SUT HWTs, awaiting new-generation weapon procurement. Both MDL as local strategic partner (SP) and Naval Group as potential foreign SP and submarine designer have been selected to participate with other Indian and foreign contenders to the P-75(I) procurement programme for six modern conventional submarines with latest equipment, weapons and sensors, including fuel cell AIP. Under the Brazil’s PROSUB (Programa de Desenvolvimento de Submarinos) programme led by Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN) jointventure between Brazil’s Odebrecht (59%) and Naval Group (41%), the first of four Scorpene diesel-electric S-BR submarines being built for the Brazilian Navy at Itaguaí facilities is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2021, while the other boats are in different stage of trials or construction. Based on the strategic defence agreement signed between the Brazilian and

Navantia has finally launched the first-of-class S-80 Plus AIP submarine last April, which is scheduled to conduct the first sea-going in early 2022 and to be delivered to the Spanish Navy in early 2023. © Navantia

French Governments in December 2008 and the contract awarded in September 2009, Naval Group is also contributing to the design and manufacturing service related to the non-nuclear elements of Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine SN-BR. To satisfy Brazilian Navy’s specific requirements for extended endurance and a larger crew, the S-BR design features a 71.6 meters lengthened hull, a 1,710/1,870 surface/ submerged displacement and a 35-member crew. The SB-R is also equipped with Naval Group SUBTICS CMS, Thales S-Cube acoustic suite with passive flank array sonar, Safran’s conventional and optronic masts and Thales communications suite. With the Scorpene’s baseline six 533-mm launching tubes and 18 total weapons payload, the SB-R is armed with Naval Group F21 HWTs and MBDA Exocet SM39 Block 2 Mod 2 ASMs.

Navantia return with S-80 Plus

Navantia has finally launched the first S-80 Plus AIP submarine last April after a troubled and over a decade late development and construction programme, further complicated by the pandemic. The programme includes the delivery of four boats alongside a training centre with both tactical and platform simulators. Designed and built by Navantia with the support of US General Dynamics Electric Boat to conduct a wide range of operations, including ASuW with selective land attack capabilities, ASW, Special Forces operations support, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and mine-laying, the new long-range AIP submarine is characterized by a modular design, allowing to be customized according to potential customers requirements. With a surface and submerged displacement of respectively 2,695 and 2,965 tonnes, an overall length and beam of respectively 81 and 11.68 meters, the S-80 Plus features a propulsion system characterized by the new BEST (BioEthanol Stealth Technologies) Navantia AIP to be installed from the third boat and retrofitted to the first two boats. It is centred on an Abengoa Ethanol reformer plus Collins PEM fuel cells providing up to three weeks of underwater endurance, and its usage up to the maximum submarine operating depth of over 300 meters. The new submarine is equipped with a PMS developed by Navantia Sistemas alongside the steering and diving control system developed by Avio Aero and the S-80 Plus Integrated Combat System Core (ICSC), developed by General

The new S-80 Plus is equipped with a Navantia Sistemas platform management system alongside a steering and diving control system by Avio Aero and the S-80 Plus Integrated Combat System Core, here depicted and developed by General Dynamics together with Navantia Sistemas. © Navantia

Dynamics together with Navantia Sistemas. These two highly automated systems allow for a reduced crew of 32 sailors with additional eight accommodations for Special Forces operators. Based on the latest version of the SUBICS (SUBmarine Integrated Combat System) suite by Lockheed Martin, the ICSC allows the combat system’s sensors and weapons to be highly integrated to ensure optimal management of both information and command and control centres. It also manages the submarine sensors and weapons suite including the sonar complex provided by Lockheed Martin and Spanish SAES, the latter also providing the towed array sonar, the surface surveillance suite including Kollmorgen Electro-Optical (today L3Harris KEO) optronic non-penetrating mast (Model 2010 OS) and attack periscope (Model 2010 AP) with universal modular masts by L3Harris Calzoni, the Indra Pegaso RESM suite and the Aries-S radar. The communications suite includes Tecnobit’s Linpro processor to manage tactical data Link 11/22 and SATCOM links. The S-80 Plus is equipped with six torpedo launch systems capable to launch a Spanish Navy-selected weapon inventory including Atlas Elektronik DM2A4 Seehect/ SeaHake Mod 4 HWTs, Boeing UGM-84 SubHarpoon Block II and mines, while the platform is fitted for Raytheon UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to Navantia, the first sailing is scheduled for early 2022 and the delivery to the Spanish Navy is planned for early 2023. The S-80 Plus is being proposed on the international market, namely in India for the P-75I programme among others, thanks to its modular design and advanced AIP, allowing the crew accommodation to be moved from the forward to the central hull area thanks to the use of non-penetrating masts alongside new hull sections insertion for enhanced capabilities.

Saab A26 family

In late July 2021, the FMV Swedish procurement agency and Saab signed a contract representing a renegotiation of the A26 Blekinge-class submarine programme and a rebaseline of the two platforms delivery to 2027 and 2028, respectively. The $ 600 million contract also includes new capabilities to be added during the building and delivery programme. According to an FMV statement, due to the Kockums shipyard’s condition overestimation at the time of the acquisition by Saab in 2014, and the activities needed to modernize and regain capacity by the Swedish defence group, the two A26 Bleking-class submarine design, development, construction, and delivery programme signed in June 2015 ran in delays and escalating costs which required a revision and rescheduling. The new contract covers the agreed extra costs as well as the additional capabilities that will give the submarines further edge, according to FMV. The upgrades to be introduced to the two submarines include the integration of the new generation Saab TS 47 lightweight torpedo, and undisclosed signature improvements. Additional spare parts are also included. The A26 has a 1,925 tonnes surface displacement, a length and beam of respectively 66.1 and 6.75 meters, and is the first Swedish submarine to be designed as an ‘AIP’ boat from inception, with a planned higher availability compared to previous generation submarines. With a forward-positioned boat control room, high-level of automation for a 26

Last July, the Swedish procurement agency and Saab signed a renegotiation contract for the A26 Blekinge-class submarine programme rescheduling the two platform deliveries to 2027 and 2028, respectively. © Saab

With an information backbone integrating all combat and ship control systems, the A26 features a new decentralized Saab SESUB 980 combat management system, already installed on board the two Gotland-class submarines subjected to the MLU programme. © Saab

crew complement (with accommodation up to 35 persons) and the latest generation of Stirling AIP, the A26 design incorporates a 1.5 meters diameter Multimission Portal between the four 533 mm torpedoes launching tubes, designed to launch and retrieve diverse mission payloads thanks to a 6-meters compartment, which can accommodate alternatively 8 divers, special vehicles, UUVs or ROVs. With an information backbone integrating all combat and ship control systems, the A26 features a decentralized Saab SESUB 980 combat management system, Safran optronic surveillance mast, an ESM suite in different frequencies, as well as a sonar suite reportedly based on Atlas Elektronik products portfolio and Kongsberg mine and obstacle avoidance bottom navigation sonars. The armament package features up to 15 underwater weapons, including Tp62 HWTs and future Tp47 LWTs. Sweden is proposing the new submarine design in three iterations (Pelagic, Ocean and Ocean Extended Range) for export, including the Netherlands Walrus Replacement Programme. Saab Kockums teamed with Dutch Damen group to offer joint local engineering, integration, final hull assembly, testing, and life-cycle support together with Dutch naval industry involvement.

Naval Group Barracuda Shortfin

In April 2016 Naval Group (then DCNS) was selected as the preferred designer and builder for the Australian Department of Defence SEA 1000 programme with its proposal for a conventionally powered derivative of the company’s Barracuda nuclear-attack submarine (SSN), which the Australian government said best met the unique capabilities required in replacing the six boats Collins class fleet with 12 new submarines. The programme also regarded the complete renaissance, with French support, of national underwater shipbuilding capabilities that was lost 20 years ago following the launch of the last of the Collins class boats at the ASC Pty shipyard near Adelaide. According to the latest released information, the proposed Shortfin Barracuda Block1A envisaged a 97 meters long boat with an 8.8 beam and a surfaced displacement of about 5,000 tonnes, retractable hydroplanes to reduce noise and drag, an X-configured rudder, the boat being fitted with 533 mm torpedo tubes. The conventional diesel-electric propulsion suite was reported to be based on four diesel alternators and a large permanent magnet main motor, with a pump jet propulsor instead of a propeller to reduce radiated noise and avoid cavitation, particularly at high speeds. Speed was reported at 20+ knots with an 18,000 nm range at 10 knots, alongside an endurance of 80 days with a crew of 60 to allow the new boats to remain on station in operational areas of interest in Northeast and Southeast Asia. The new attack class boats were to be equipped with a combat system based on Lockheed Martin Australia upgraded AN/ BYG-1(v)8 combat control system, and armed with enhanced Lockheed Martin Mark 48 Mod 7 CBASS (Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System) HWTs and undisclosed anti-ship and land attack missiles. Major equipment supplier

already selected included Safran (France), Jeumont (France), MTU (Germany), Schneider Electric France, Thales UK and Babcock International (UK). However, on 15 September, the Australian government announced the decision to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines in-country as the first initiative part of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership between Australia, UK and US, and the intention not to proceed with the subsequent phases of the SEA 1000 programme, cancelling de facto the Naval Group contracts. The Barracuda Shortfin conventional design is however a reality, which is being promoted by the French shipbuilding group on the international market in different and customized configurations. Naval Group is working on new propulsion systems with the same company’s FC2G (Fuel Cell 2nd Generation) and new batteries as well as on SUBTICS CMS developments, while Thales continues to enhance sonar technologies and capabilities and Safran the optronic mast suite.

Turkish indigenous developments

The Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) of the four Preveze class (Type 209/1400) submarines and the delivery of the six Reis-class Type 214TN being constructed at Golcuk Naval Shipyard under the € 2.06 billion NTSP (New Type Submarine Project) programme awarded by the Turkish SSB to tkMS (then HDW) in 2009 is benefiting not only the Turkish Navy but also the national defence technological and industrial base. With the participation of a large number of Turkish companies including Aselsan, Havelsan, MilSOFT, Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade (STM), Koç Information and Defense, Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), and AYESAŞ, the know-how and experience gained with the latest programme but also with the Preveze class MLU represent a key capability to locally develop, build and equip a new generation submarine under the national submarine (MILDEN) project, which is currently in the design phase and is expected to be built in the 2030s.

The Barracuda Shortfin conventional design is being promoted by Naval Group on the international market in different and customized configurations. The French shipbuilding group is working on new propulsion systems with the same company’s FC2G (Fuel Cell 2nd Generation), new batteries as well SUBTICS CMS developments. © Naval Group

Naval Group was selected for the Australian Department of Defence SEA 1000 programme for a conventionally powered derivative of the company’s Barracuda nuclear-attack submarine. Recently the Australian government halted the programme and decided to go for a nuclear-powered solution with the US and UK. © Naval Group