Italy orders up to four more submarines via OCCAR
New boats will be ‘the sole undeniable asset’ for the Italian Navy in the submarine domain, says MoD
The Italian MoD is buying up to four Type U212 Near Future Submarines (NFS) from Fincantieri through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), according to a notice published on 9 December on the official EU tenders database.
Procurement of an initial two boats, with the option for two more plus related technical, logistical and training services, will cost up to €1.35 billion ($1.63 billion).
The Italian Navy already operates four Type U212A Salvatore Todaro-class diesel-electric attack submarines, which were ordered in two batches with the final boat being commissioned in May 2017. Shephard Defence Insight gives an out-of-service date of 2032 for these boats.
The new Type U212 NFS submarines will be ‘the sole undeniable asset that the Italian Navy needs to satisfy its operational requirements in the submarine domain’, the MoD claimed.
‘In Europe only TKMS [ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems] and Fincantieri have the technical know-how for the development and production of U212A submarines,’ it added. ‘Therefore the contract can be awarded to Fincantieri... using the negotiated procedure.’
The design of the NFS boats will be based on the Type U212A, although the MoD did not specify any differences in its announcement.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
U-212 Near Future Submarine (4) [Italy]
U-212 Near Future Submarine (1-2) [Italy]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls]()
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
![“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling]()
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
-
![As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging]()
As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging
Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.
-
![US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027]()
US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027
After recording a nearly six-year delay in the OPC schedule, the USCG intends to advance with the programme, reaching multiple milestones in the short term.
