During the Defence Leaders Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2024 in Farnborough, UK, the Marina Militare unveiled its submarine fleet developments from now to 2050.
In a his presentation titled “Italian Navy perspective for upcoming submarines”, Commander Stefano Oliva, Submarine Research & Development Office at Italian Navy General Staff, provided the audience with the first details about the future developments of the submarine force, aiming to increase the fleet from 8 to 10 boats by 2036. By then, the Italian Navy submarine fleet would consists of
- upgraded U212A,
- U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine)
- U212 NFS EVO (Evolved)
The production of a new generation submarine (NGS) would start after 2040. The Italian Navy also launched the path to develop a large displacement autonomous underwater vehicle (LDAUV).
“We live in a time where autonomous vehicles are increasingly used underwater”
Commander Stefano Oliva, Submarine Research & Development Office
“the covertness offered by the water column (to manned platforms) is becoming less effective due to the increasing technological underwater development.”
“Nevertheless, as submariners we need to leverage the human presence on board as the latter cannot be replaced by the artificial intelligence, at least in the near future. We therefore need to emphasize the endurance, the persistence and the covertness, keeping our fleet of manned platforms at the technological edge without forgetting the importance of the crew,” explained CMDR Oliva, who has served as U212A commander before joining the Submarine office at the General Staff.
Currently, the Italian submarines flotilla consists of eight platforms: four Sauro-class and four U212A-class boats, each subdivided in two batches: Sauro III and IV series (two boats each) and U212A first and second batches (two boats each). Under the U212 NFS (Near Future Submarines) procurement programme managed by OCCAR on behalf of Italian MoD’s Naval Armaments Directorate, Fincantieri as prime contractor and design authority is to supply four new boats, of which two are already under construction, another is under contract while the fourth is to be contracted soon.
“According to current analysis, we foresee the need to increase the number of submarines from eight to ten, including two Sauro class subjected to an operational life extension (OLE), four U212A of which two (1st Batch) subjected to a mid-life upgrade (MLU) programme and the four U212 NFS (Near Future Submarines) which are currently under procurement and construction,”
“In the meantime, we already began financing research and development activities for a new platform project that we have called Next Generation Submarine (NGS), which we expect to start producing after 2040,” the Italian Navy representative continued.
“We are also looking to major enhancements to the U212 NFS,” highlighted Cmdr Oliva, primarily focused on the introduction of deep strike missile capabilities, unmanned vehicles, covert mining, lithium batteries, new torpedo countermeasures and towed array sonar in addition to artificial intelligence (AI) solutions applied to different tasks.
U212 NFS EVO
“In order to replace the two Sauro boats and ensure production continuity between 2031 and 2036, we plan to launch the development and construction of two additional boats which we have (currently) identified as NFS EVO (EVOlution) as a bridge between the U212 NFS family and the NGS project.”
The Italian Navy is envisaging the U212 NFS EVO as a full national submarine design and hull construction with “a larger platform of over 2,000 tonnes displacement that will incorporate the first technologies resulting from the R&D studies and testing on the NGS project involving universities and research centres in addition to industry.”
According to the presentation, between the completion of the two U212 NFS EVO programme and the start of the production of the NGS platforms, the Italian Navy plans to subject the second Batch of U212As (two boats) to the MLU programme which could also include on-going developments for the U212 NFS platforms.
“We also launched the path to develop a national large displacement autonomous underwater vehicle (LDAUV), having allocated budget for a concept development,” also highlighted Cmdr Oliva signalling the aim to develop a mixed fleet of manned and unmanned platforms, also including smaller remotely operated and unmanned vehicles.
Detailing current and future programmes
After giving an overview of the Italian Navy fleet developments from now to 2050, the Italian Navy representative provided first details about the foreseen current and future upgrading and new construction programmes and technologies developments.
“The Italian Navy has four Sauro class boats still in service, the last two delivered in 1994 and 1995. Due to the need to keep them in service until the completion of the U212 NFS delivery programme, an operational life extension programme has been launched. An overhaul and upgrade dock period for the first boat is planned. We will address combat system and platform obsolescence and introduce new equipment and weapon systems. We will integrate the Black Shark Advanced heavy weight torpedo (HWT) with the existing launching tubes in a swim-out version”, unveiled Cmdr Oliva, without providing further details.
“The U212A 1st Batch, Todaro and Sciré were delivered in 2006 and 2007. As these boats are approaching 20 years of operational life we have scheduled a mid-life upgrade aiming to increase capabilities, solve the obsolescence issues and to standardize the logistic chain as much as possible, thanks to the expansion of communalities between the U212 flotilla hulls. In details, the combat management system will be the same of the U212 NFS, while the periscope suite will be upgraded with the introduction of an optronic mast replacing the penetrating surveillance periscope. The sonar suite will also be enhanced together with the adoption of Black Shark Advanced HWT as already arming the U212 2nd Batch boats. The MLU programme will also include new anti-torpedo countermeasures as well as a new SATCOM antenna. Based on the operational experience, we also consider essential to equip the periscope with the anti-jamming GNSS/GPS antenna,” explained the Italian Navy representative.
The U212 NFS programme will provide four new boats alongside to in-service, logistic support and a new training centre. In addition to feature an platform management system by Fincantieri, a combat system centred on Leonardo CMS and a suite of sensors mainly provided by national companies, Italian Navy is working to further enhance these boats capabilities to match present and future needs.
U212 NFS capabilities
Cmdr Oliva said without providing further details:
“We are going to launch a feasibility study to integrated deep strike missile capabilities. Our goal is to mechanically and electrically integrate the off-the-shelf munition by adapting them to use the NFS boat tubes”,
“The Navy has also contracted the U212 NFS design authority (Fincantieri) to study the integration of unmanned vehicles including both remotely operated (ROVs) and autonomous vehicles (AUVs) for both the new and in-service U212A boats. We are working to add the capability to carry and operate both smaller and larger (unmanned) systems.” Answering audience questions, the Italian Navy representative explained that smaller AUV will be launched by torpedo tubes while larger vehicles will be carried and operated through a dedicated enclosure added behind the sail.
“The U212 NFS will also be capable of covert mining and will receive new anti-torpedo countermeasures. While we are still in the process of selecting the best towed array sonar for our new submarines (in addition to the already contracted new customized sonar suite), The Italian Navy is launching a new project with national companies and universities focusing on a new integrated fibre optic towed array.”
Concerning the lithium-ion batteries, the on-going development since 2010 with a national consortium “is on track and the Critical Design Review (CDR) is planned to be concluded in 2024. Then we will start the phase of industrialization of components and construction of the mock-up of the battery compartment with auxiliary systems and the testing facilities.” Lastly, the Italian Navy have started a project that aims to develop algorithms and software based on the artificial intelligence for acoustic classification, periscope imaging and target motion analysis.
“With the new U212 NFS EVO project, we aim to extend the NFS capabilities by integrating new technologies. Specifically, our goal is to design a new weapon launch system to allow more flexibility to integrate and deliver weapon systems and other capabilities such as unmanned vehicles. We are looking for a multi-purpose tube accommodating torpedoes, missiles mines and vehicles. We are also exploring new optronic technologies and solutions, including a surveillance sensor on top a non-rotating mast with a 360° camera,” unveiled Cmdr Oliva.
The Italian Navy has already started a new project aimed at the reduction of the target strength through the use of metamaterials-based coating. No further details were released, but the requirement to significantly reduce the target strength could indicate a new hull shape for the future NFS EVO platform, which will be based as already explained on a full nation submarine design.
“Given the complexity of the technology integrated into a submarine, it is important to start R&D activities now in order to be ready for the evolving scenario. To cope with these needs, the Italian Navy has launched the NGS project, which at the moment is still in the process of scouting for emerging and promising technologies. Greater efficiency will be obtained thanks to the wider use of artificial intelligence, new optronic sensors, innovative shapes and acoustic invisibility through metamaterials, underwater communication network and new generation inertial positioning system, are all technological challenges that we are going to face and that we aim to integrate together. As for a key future driver, the underwater communications, we launched different projects to exploit new technologies. In particular, we are studying three solutions: the first is a underwater optical communication protected by quantum keys exchange. The second is a new kind of radio frequency antenna for the electromagnetic underwater communication. And lastly, the use of metamaterials for developing a new kind of acoustic lenses to improve the hydrophone performance.” The Italian Navy is also focusing on the research for new propulsion systems to be introduced on the NGS platform.
The request to expand the submarine fleet has been proposed in the past without effects but the increasing threats posed to critical underwater infrastructures and sea lines of communications and the need to protect national interests are key factors to fund a long term enforcement of Italian Navy underwater capabilities. This is being supported by the National Underwater domain Cluster (PNS, Polo Nazionale della dimensione Subacquea) including Government entities, large industries and PMI, start-ups, universities and research centres which was recently launched after inauguration nearby La Spezia in the Italian Navy’s compound also accommodating the Service’s naval support and experimentation centre (CSSN) and the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) and recently proposed by Italian Navy to host the NATO Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the underwater domain.
