TRIESTE – Fincantieri to build the fourth submarine of new generation relating to the U212NFS (Near Future Submarine) program of the Navy. The OCCAR (International Organization for Armament Cooperation), in fact, has exercised the related option. The unit has a value of approximately 500 million eurosincluding the related Integrated Logistic Support and In Service Support. The agreement was signed by the Director of Occar, Joachim Sucker, and the DG Naval Vessels Division, Dario Deste, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggianowhere the start of work was also celebrated with the cutting of the third Nfs submarine. At the same time, an Engineering Change Proposal is being activated for the industrialization in Italy, production and integration on board all U212NFS of an innovative lithium energy storage system (Lithium Battery System) that will replace the traditional lead system currently in use, thus increasing the submarines’ submerged autonomy. The U212NFS will be highly innovative, with design changes developed by Fincantieri.
The target
The program intends to respond to the need for surveillance and control of underwater spacesconsidering the complex operational scenarios of underwater operations and the approaching end of the operational life of the 4 units of the “Sauro” class currently in service. The submarines of the Italian Navy are engaged in the surveillance of maritime communication routes and the underwater dimension, also within the framework of NATO and EU alliances. A role that is becoming increasingly important in light of the country’s interests that reside beneath the surface of the sea, from the resources of the seabed to underwater energy and communication infrastructures. Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and CEO of Fincantieri spoke of a «further step forward in Fincantieri’s growth in the defense sector and, in particular, in the innovation of the underwater sector». The CEO he recalled how «strategic» the underwater area is, «in which the fundamental challenges of geopolitical balances and technological innovation of the future will be played out». Finally, Folgiero reported that the Lithium Battery System is «an absolute innovation in underwater propulsion systems».
