The U212 NFS is an evolution of the U212A submarine, which the manufacturers describes as ‘exceptionally stealthy.’ Photo from Fincantieri
MANILA, Philippines — Two European shipbuilders are vying to be chosen as the manufacturer of the Philippine Navy’s first submarines.
Toward this end, Fincantieri SpA and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH on Thursday announced a new partnership.
They did so as contractors look to the Philippines for opportunities to supply military hardware and services.
This comes as the third phase of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program slowly gathers steam.
Dubbed “Re-Horizon 3,” the 10-year program that was approved in 2024 is expected to cost P2 trillion.
Last February, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said their goal is “to get at least two submarines.”
Brawner said this at a meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines, where he was a guest speaker.
For securing territorial waters
In a joint statement, the Italian and German companies said that the introduction of underwater boats in the Philippine Navy’s fleet “would be a game-changer in securing territorial waters, especially in the South China Sea.”
For this potential project, Fincantieri and TKMS signed an industrial cooperation agreement.
In particular, the two partners plan to offer to the Philippines the U212 NFS class submarines.
NFS stands for Near Future Submarine. Fincantieri is currently building these for the Italian Navy at its shipyards in Italy.
Aside from delivering the submarines, the partnership also aims to be engaged in strengthening local infrastructure and expanding the operational capabilities of the Philippine Navy’s fleet.
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Further, the two firms are also pitching for them to be tapped in developing a new naval base of the Philippine Navy.
“Building on our successful cooperation [with Fincantieri] within the Italian submarine program, this industrial cooperation agreement provides an excellent foundation for further joint projects in the underwater domain,” said Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS.
Export strategy
“This cooperation is a key milestone in promoting our international export strategy, leveraging the latest cutting-edge Italian and German technologies and quality,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri.
The U212 NFS is developed from the HDW Class U212A submarine, some of which the Italian Navy is already operating.
The U212A features “low acoustic, magnetic and visual signature characteristics [that make] it exceptionally stealthy,” the shipbuilders said.
“The Philippine Navy would gain a significant strategic advantage through the Air Independent Propulsion technology, first introduced on the U212A, and now integrated into the U212 NFS,” they added.
If the Philippine Navy chooses to order U212 NFS submarines, they would be bundled with “the operational support provided by the Italian Navy.”
Also, the package includes specialized industrial and operational training, which would enable the Philippine Navy “to rapidly build a well-structured and highly skilled submarine crew.”