Update: Contract with TKMS signed by head of German defence procurement office (BAAINBw).
The German Parliament (Bundestag) in its final committee sessions before Christmas has approved a large number of Bundeswehr procurement requests worth around 21 billion Euros. The most notable item for the German Navy concerns an additional four Type 212CD submarines. This approval means Berlin will have six Type 212CD on order, once officials sign off on a contract with builder TKMS. Type 212CD represents a collaboration between Germany and Norway modernizing their respective submarine fleets. Oslo previously indicated a desire to also increase their standing order of four boats by adding another two hulls. The German decision implies that the overall Type 212CD-procurement could double to twelve submarines for both navies combined.
Notably Bundestag will leave decisions over how to allocate the needed money to a future German government. The country will go to the polls for early federal elections in February next year. The contract for four Type 212CD-submarines has an estimated value of 4.7 billion Euros.
IDAS Submarine-launched missile system approved
In addition the Bundestag has also passed funding for the IDAS submarine missile capability. IDAS, short for “Interactive Defense and Attack System for Submarines”, uses a solid-fueled missile with a range exceeding 15 km. The interceptor is fitted with an IIR-seeker and a fibre-optic data link enabling the operator to derive data and choose target points. IDAS can engage low-flying aircraft in addition to ships and land targets. Multiple IDAS-interceptors are mounted in a single container. The arrangement uses one of the existing 533 mm torpedo tubes on the submarine in question. IDAS has experienced very protracted development over lack of funding. The project has gone through testing since 2015 on German and Norwegian submarines. Evaluation included successful submerged launch from a Type 212A.
German Defence-officials have justified the desire for further submarines by citing prospective new NATO-readiness requirements. According to German defence media Hartpunkt NATO-goals entail a minimum of five German submarines available for operations from 2031. Applying the usual rule of thirds this figure implies up to 15 German submarines in service overall. However, availability-definitions likely include some slack allowing for fewer boats to meet the objective. The desired timeframe and total figures however raise questions over the German Navy’s ability to come true on stated intentions.
Crewing- and maintenance-challenges looming for submarines
The German Navy at present operates six Type 212A AIP submarines. The service has a long-standing ambition raising the fleet to eight boats overall. A notion to increase submarine figures beyond eight boats first emerged within the scope of the “Zielbild Marine 2035+” the German Navy released in April 2023. The “Zielbild” outlines a future naval force posture for 2035 and beyond. The new outline includes between six and nine Type 212CD. The German Navy intends to supplement this fleet with a yet to be defined UUV-capability. An evaluation of the Israeli “Blue Whale”-XLUUV is underway at present, with further testing scheduled for 2025.
The parliamentary approval notionally enables a significantly larger German submarine fleet. However major question marks over the feasibility of the effort remain. Four of the six Type 212A-submarines are overdue for a midlife-upgrade, having passed the halfway-mark of service over the last five years. Submarines typically feature a designed for service life around 30 years and Type 212A would likely not just require MLU-, but also life-extension measures applied, should the German Navy desire to keep them in service significantly beyond 2035.
The second batch of two Type 212A commissioned in 2015 and 2016 approaches the time for MLU-work around 2030. Statements by the German Ministry for Defence, notably within the scope of the biannual report on major arms projects, repeatedly emphasised the importance of MLU-measures for Type 212A. A detailed plan and funding to implement the required measures including docking periods however have yet to emerge.
The likely more substantial challenge keeping up to twelve boats in service is a consistent shortfall in recruitment figures affecting Bundeswehr. In this regard the German Navy already faces considerable difficulties owing to a desire in increasing the surface fleet. Since release of the “Zielbild” the service intends to take into service not just six F126 ASW-frigates, but additionally desires five new F127 FFG replacing the current Sachsen-class (F124) in the anti-air warfare role. F127-figures in particular remain in flux, as the program is currently at an early stage. The German Navy at one point voiced a desire for six new AAW-frigates, although the odds coming true on that figure appear to have diminished.
Builder TKMS keen on expanded submarine production
As per current plans Norway will receive the first Type 212CD by 2027, for commissioning in 2029. The German Navy will receive their originally ordered two boats in 2031 and 2034. A timeframe for production of additional hulls has yet to emerge.
TKMS in June this year had finalised acquisition of MV Werfen in Wismar with a stated intention to produce submarines at the new yard. The German shipbuilder recently opened a brand new submarine production facility in Kiel which Naval News was able to tour earlier this year. Two parallel production lines would facilitate an acceleration in fielding the additional boats desired by both Germany and Norway. Whether production can ramp up quickly enough to allow the German Navy fielding five operational submarines by 2031 remains to be seen. TKMS is also pursuing sales opportunities for Type 212CD in Canada, Poland and India, although Naval News understands the focus with Delhi is on Type 214NG. Additional foreign orders would add further demand for increased production capacity.
