German Navy Orders Two More U212A Submarines

Released on Tuesday, September 26, 2006

On Friday, September 22, 2006, the consortium �ARGE 2. Los 212A" and the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement signed a contract concerning the delivery of another two submarines of class 212A. ARGE is made up of the companies Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft and Nordseewerke, which belong to the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems shipyard alliance.

Both vessels will be equipped with an air-independent propulsion system based on the hydrogen fuel cell. The second batch for the German Navy will be constructed according to the already tried and tested general design for the first four submarines and will likewise be built in non-magnetic steel. For the two new vessels, this general design has been adapted to the future deployment requirements of the German Navy.

In addition to expanded and improved surface and underwater sensor technology, the new submarines of class U212A have major innovations in the field of communication. This means that the submarines can be optimally deployed in Network Centric Warfare. They are also equipped for deployment of special forces. The delivery date for the two submarines is fixed for 2012 and 2013.

For the two companies from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems this order means the retention of their core industrial competence in the conventional submarine segment. The order will provide long-term security for several hundred jobs in Kiel and Emden.