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Norway – Future Submarine Rewritten – September 2006 Program Status: Projected.
Operational Requirement: The Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) has a requirement for a modern submarine force able to conduct a variety of missions in the littoral waters of the Norwegian fjords and in the open ocean waters of the Norwegian Sea, including anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance and intelligence collection, special operations support, and mine laying. The RNoN expects its submarines to play a key role in opposing an invasion of Norwegian territory. Program Background: The RNoN submarine force currently consists of six Ula class submarines, which entered service from 1989 – 1992. Although these submarines are currently undergoing a modernization program, the RNoN should start replacing the aging hulls by 2019 if funding is available. It must be noted that Norway was originally part of the Viking Submarine Project that began in 1997. The Viking project, which included the Nordic countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden was designed as a program to replace the submarines of all three countries, which had aging submarine fleets built in the 1960s and 1970s. Its intention was to develop a common, affordable, new-generation submarine design to meet the submarine replacement requirements of the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish navies. Additionally, it was believed that the joint procurement approach would save around 20% in total procurement costs when compared to a purely national acquisition program. It also anticipated additional savings in training and integrated logistic support (ILS) costs. However, after the program began in 1997, all three nations began to reduce their respective submarine requirements including Norway. The RNoN cut its requirement from ten hulls to six as it began to restructure its sea services to reflect its new military posture. Following five years of participation in the Viking Program, Norway withdrew on 12 April 2002 due to budgetary constraints. Even though Norway has withdrawn from the Viking Program, it will still have to procure a new submarine from a foreign source since it has never built a complete submarine indigenously. Norway has a strong association with Germany and will more than likely procure a new submarine from Germany. A primary candidate would be the German Type 212A, which is already being built for the German Navy. Utilizing the German Type 212A or Type 214 would probably be the least expensive alternative the RNoN will have for the foreseeable future. Program Acquisition Plan: The RNoN currently does not have an acquisition program in place to acquire a new submarine to replace the Ula class. However, the Navy will probably begin long-term feasibility studies around 2012. A construction contract will probably occur by 2016 in order to have the first unit in service by 2019 in order to begin replacing the Ula class on time. Based on this information, the following acquisition plan, for a buy of six units, valued at US$300M each, is projected: Concept Start 2012 Concept Select 2013 Contract Design 2014 Construction Contract RfP 2015 Construction Contract Award 2016 First of Class Commissions 2019 Hull Two Commissions 2020 Hull Three Commissions 2021 Hull Four Commissions 2022 Hull Five Commissions 2023 Hull Six Commissions 2024 Design and Construction Considerations: Design and construction considerations are purely speculative. However, if the RNoN intends to replace its aging Ula submarine fleet, it will have to do so at a very economical cost. Since Norway has a long-term relationship with Germany in the submarine field, it could attempt to join in with the German Type 212A program or procure the Type 214 that is being exported to South Korea. Currently, Norway is already providing the Kongsberg Defense Aerospace (KDA) combat management system (CMS) MSI-90U for the German and Italian Type 212A units. In addition, all of Norway’s past submarines have originated from Germany. Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E): The new submarine will be approximately 56 meters (183.7ft) in length with a displacement of around 1830 tons. The design will probably include a number of features to enhance the submarine’s stealth characteristics, including reduced acoustic, infrared, magnetic, pressure, and radar signatures. It will also feature considerable automation in ship control, remote monitoring, and combat systems in order to utilize a small crew of around 30 personnel. Combat Systems:
Ship Characteristics:
Key Personnel: Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) Rear Admiral Jan Eirik Finseth
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