On January 11, 2022, at the enterprise of the Italian shipbuilding association Fincantieri in Mudgiano in La Spezia, a ceremony was held to begin construction for the Italian Navy of the lead non-nuclear submarine of the new project 212NFS (construction number p.6340).
The ceremony of the start of construction for the Italian Navy of the lead non-nuclear submarine of the new project 212NFS (construction number p.6340) at the enterprise of the Italian shipbuilding association Fincantieri in Mudgiano (La Spezia), 11.01.2022 (c) Fincantieri
On February 26, 2021, the Fincantieri association signed a contract worth 1.35 billion euros with the European defense procurement organization OCCAR (Organization Conjointe de Cooperation sur l'Armement) for the construction of the first two non-nuclear submarines of the new 212NFS (Near Future Submarine) project for the Italian Navy, with an option for two more boats. Two contracted boats are to be commissioned into the Italian fleet in December 2027 and January 2029. Two optional boats are expected to be commissioned in 2030 and 2031. The total cost of the program, taking into account the option, is estimated at 2.68 billion euros. In general, four submarines of the 212NFS project planned for construction should replace the four remaining diesel-electric submarines of the Nazario Sauro type, commissioned in 1988-1995, in the Italian Navy.
Submarine project 212NFS (Near Future Submarine) is the Italian national development of the submarine of the German 212A project that previously Fincantieri under licence and in partnership with the German shipbuilding Association of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) built at the shipyard in Muggiano four submarines, incorporated into the Italian Navy from 2006 to 2017 (typ Salvatore Todaro).
Detailed characteristics of the boats of the 212NFS project have not yet been published. It was reported that in comparison with the project 212A, the boats of the project 212NFS will have a slightly increased length (by 1.2 meters) and displacement and partially modified hull contours, while maintaining an air-independent power plant of the same German type on hydrogen fuel cells. New lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries jointly developed by Fincantieri and the Italian company FiB/FAMM will be installed on the boats of the 212NFS project. The main electronic systems of the new submarines will be Italian-made, including the new ASBU developed by Leonardo.
The ceremony of the start of construction for the Italian Navy of the lead non-nuclear submarine of the new project 212NFS (construction number p.6340) at the enterprise of the Italian shipbuilding association Fincantieri in Mudgiano (La Spezia), 11.01.2022 (c) Fincantieri and the Italian Navy
Design images of the new project 212NFS non-nuclear submarine for the Italian Navy (c) Fincantieri