Norway Buys German 212CD Submarines: Norway has decided to grow its future submarine fleet by buying two more German-built Type 212CD submarines. The government in Oslo confirmed this choice after lawmakers supported a plan for 6 total boats. Norway made this move because Russian submarines from the Kola Peninsula keep moving more often into the Barents Sea and the North Atlantic. Officials say this extra order will make Norway stronger with its allies.
The new order raises the full program cost to almost 100 billion kroner. Norway also approved a separate plan to spend 19 billion kroner on long-range missiles. These two steps will boost NATO strength in the High North during a time of higher tension with Russia.
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What the New Submarines Can Do
Norway and Germany signed the first deal in 2021 for a joint program of six Type 212CD submarines. Four of those were for Norway. Now Norway will take the option for two more. The extra money, plus higher equipment prices and exchange-rate changes, lifts the total bill close to 100 billion kroner. Norway expects to receive the first new submarine in 2029. The rest will follow into the mid-2030s, so the Royal Norwegian Navy can slowly replace its older boats without losing strength.
Each Type 212CD is about 73 metres long and weighs almost 2,500 tonnes on the surface. Its outer hull has sharp, angled shapes that make it harder for enemy sonars to detect. The submarine uses two MTU 4000 diesel engines, fuel-cell air-independent propulsion, and lithium iron phosphate batteries.
These systems let the boat stay underwater for weeks without snorkeling. It can stay on mission for about forty days and reach more than 20 knots underwater while staying very quiet.
The submarine carries modern sensors. It uses Hensoldt optronic masts instead of old-style periscopes and a SA9510S MkII sonar with extra passive flank arrays. All of the sensors feed into the ORCCA combat management system made by KTA Naval Systems. This system helps the crew handle more data and work better with allied ships. The boat also uses an electronic warfare suite and special low-probability-of-intercept radars from Indra to stay hidden.
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For weapons, the Norwegian submarines are equipped with 533 mm tubes that can fire DM2A4 heavyweight torpedoes, according to reports. Norway also studies a submarine version of the Naval Strike Missile to add long-range land and sea attack ability. The submarines can also lay mines and place special forces close to shore.
Why does Norway want 6 Boats?
Norway still operates six Ula-class submarines with 533 mm torpedo tubes and SeaHake DM2A3 torpedoes. These older boats protect Norwegian waters from fjords out to the North Atlantic. The new Type 212CD submarines will let Norway keep several patrols running at the same time in the Barents Sea and the North Atlantic. Their quiet AIP systems and Arctic design help them watch Russian Northern Fleet routes and track nuclear submarines.
Norway’s larger plan also includes long-range strike missiles and shared support work with Germany at Haakonsvern. The full German-Norwegian pool of twelve Type 212CD submarines will increase allied presence between Svalbard, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.
