Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has secured a contract with the Directorate of Naval Armaments of the Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate to provide on-demand servicing for German Navy submarines. The agreement is part of the cooperation program between Italy and Germany for the U-212A class of submarines.
The contract, spanning five years, will adopt Fincantieri’s on-demand service model, which involves prompt interventions to ensure the optimal performance of the subs. Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, expressed that this contract signifies international recognition of their technological and reputational achievements, further establishing the company’s strategic defense hub in the Mediterranean’s underwater sector.
The U-212A Program originated from a 1996 agreement between the Defense Ministries of Italy and Germany, driven by the Italian Navy’s requirement for a new class of submarines.
The similarities influenced the decision to pursue international cooperation in operational needs and implementation timelines between the armed forces of both countries. Currently, the Italian Navy operates four U-212A submarines, while the German Navy has six. Fincantieri also recently announced their involvement in constructing the third submarine for the Italian Navy’s U-212NFS (Near Future Submarine) program, an evolved version of the U-212A contracted to the company.
