Diving together

The partners Germany and Norway have launched the U-212CD project. Initial investments have already been initiated.

Norway and Germany are setting new standards in international defence cooperation through the joint procurement and use of identical submarines. The innovative approach will further consolidate the joint strategic co-operation over the next 40 years.

The contracts for the 212 Common Design (CD) submarines were signed on 8 July 2021 after intensive preparation and negotiations between the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), its Norwegian equivalent, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA), and the contractor Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The first new boat is to be delivered to Norway in 2029. The longer than expected negotiation phase was influenced by many factors, in particular the large number of joint definition decisions. The negotiations were also slowed down by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions in both nations. However, the main reason was that this is no ordinary procurement programme. Rather, it is the first time that two nations have agreed a partnership in such a complex programme. In the development of this partnership, there were therefore a number of questions to be clarified regarding the scope, detail and financing of the contract.

The contracts between the three parties NDMA, BAAINBw and the contractor Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems cover the procurement of a total of six submarines - four for Norway and two for Germany. The total procurement volume amounts to more than five billion euros.