The German-Norwegian Type 212CD submarine programme is gaining international attention, with Canada, Greece, and Poland expressing interest in joining the initiative, according to officials at UDT 2025 in Oslo.
Captain Bernd Weis, Coordinator of German-Norwegian Naval Defence Materiel Cooperation, confirmed that while new partners cannot modify existing requirements, they can participate in lifetime maintenance opportunities. The Netherlands initially showed interest but ultimately selected Naval Group’s Barracuda submarines instead.
The Type 212CD submarine, which will replace Norway’s Ula-class and Germany’s Type 212A boats, measures 73 meters in length, accommodates 30 crew members, and features a diamond shaped hull for reduced signature. Advanced sonar sensors and their increased processing power represent significant improvements over previous models.
Germany has ordered six Type 212CD submarines, while Norway has committed to four, with two additional vessels possibly pending Norwegian parliamentary approval. The program emphasizes operational availability over cost considerations according to Norwegian Programme Director Captain Oystein Storebo.
For weaponry, export customers can now also select the Italian-made Black Shark Advanced heavy-weight torpedo from WASS Submarine Systems or the German/Norwegian DM2A5 Common Heavy Weight Torpedo (CHWT) currently under development. The submarines will also integrate Atlas Elektronik’s SeaSpider Anti-Torpedo-Torpedo system.
Additionally, the navies are exploring participation in Spain’s submarine-launched Naval Strike Missile project and plan on integrating the new co-developed supersonic strike missile (3SM) with extended range capabilities.
The first Type 212CD submarine is scheduled for delivery by 2029, with Captain Storebo declaring it “the benchmark for non-nuclear submarines.”