Fincantieri tests lithium-ion battery system for Italian Navy’s U212 NFS submarines

January 10, 2025, by Aida Čučuk

Power4Future, part of Italian shipbuilding major Fincantieri, has completed the final operational test of the lithium-ion battery system (LBS), intended for the Italian Navy’s U212 near future submarines (NFS), at the Piedimonte San Germano facility.

The milestone is the result of a collaboration between Fincantieri, through the consortium Power4Future-FAAM-Cetena, UK-based company Navarm and the Organization for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR), a European intergovernmental organization that facilitates and manages collaborative armament programs.

As disclosed, the complete lithium-ion battery system has been powered up and tested under real operating conditions to verify its performance during the charging and discharging phases. The final test focused on safety, technology, performance and adaptability to demanding and extremely challenging operational conditions.

The LBS underwent technical evaluations to validate its capabilities, with the single string converter (SSC) directly linked with the modules string, OCCAR revealed, adding: “The test allowed the verification of the behavior of the SSC complex and the string during an operational mission by varying electrical loads, both during the battery usage phases and recharging, up to the maximum permitted levels. The entire activity, in addition to assessing the functional capabilities of the constituent components, also evaluated the effectiveness of the battery monitoring system.”

Commenting on the final test, Fincantieri said: “This activity marks an important milestone towards the homologation of the entire lithium-ion battery system, within a project that encompasses the construction of a state-of-the-art laboratory which will also serve as a training center for personnel and crews involved. An accomplishment that further solidifies our commitment to the underwater sector, bringing increasingly innovative solutions and future-proof units on board.”

To note, the U212 NFS submarines are expected to be highly innovative, with significant design modifications that will all be developed independently by Fincantieri, which holds the role of design authority and prime contractor.

The program responds to the need to secure adequate underwater spatial surveillance and control capacity, considering the future complex scenarios of underwater operations and the fact that the end of the operational lifetime of the four Sauro-class submarines currently in service is drawing near.

In the summer of 2024, OCCAR exercised an option for the fourth new-generation submarine related to the U212 NFS program. The contract has a total value of approximately €500 million, including the related integrated logistic support and in-service support.