The Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) has announced the signing of Amendment No. 6 to the U212 Near Future Submarine (NFS) program contract.
As disclosed, this amendment adds a new engineering change proposal (ECP) focused on a study for the first batch of U212A Todaro-class submarines to determine which systems need to be upgraded using the latest technology developed for the Near Future Submarine program.
The ECP aims to identify the best technological solutions to install on the U21 A-class submarines. Although these boats are still among the most advanced in the world, nearly twenty years have passed since their delivery, and they have accumulated tens of thousands of operating hours. As a result, they now need important upgrades and solutions to replace outdated equipment, OCCAR said.
Through the mid-life update (MLU) study, OCCAR-EA will pinpoint all systems and equipment that require modern technology, building on what has already been developed and used on the newer NFS units.
This is expected to bridge the gap between the two generations of submarines and ensure access to modern solutions, as well as to allow a shared logistical support system.
According to OCCAR, this MLU sets the stage for beneficial partnerships with other nations that operate submarines with the same core design, creating more opportunities for joint development and support.
To remind, Power4Future, part of Italian shipbuilding major Fincantieri , recently completed the final operational test of the lithium-ion battery system (LBS), intended for the Italian Navy’s U212 submarines.