Importance of submarines in the future of the Norwegian Navy
Ine Eriksen Søreide, Norway’s Minister of Defence, last Friday announced a German-Norwegian strategic partnership for purchase and lifetime management for four new submarines.
Norway’s current fleet of six ULA-class conventional submarines are to reach their end of life in the 2025-2030 timeframe and will be decommissioned.
In a White Paper to Parliament in 2016, the Norwegian government underlined the importance of submarines and their place in the future development of the Norwegian Navy.
Norway will now enter into final negotiations with German authorities and once a government-to-government agreement is in place, a German-Norwegian negotiation towards the German submarine supplier thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will commence. The plan is to sign a common contract for new submarines in 2019, with deliveries 2025-2030.
The submarines will be based on the so-called 212-design already in service in Germany and Italy.
Germany’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has welcomed the announcement by Norway that could see the two countries’ navies make a joint order for new submarines. The MoD said the plan ensures key technologies remain in Germany for decades to come, adding that important components for the submarines would be supplied by Norwegian companies.
