U212 NFS submarine

Class overview
Name	U212 NFS; U212 NFS EVO;
Builders	Fincantieri S.p.A.
Operators	Future operator:; Italian Navy ;
Preceded by	Sauro class submarine
Succeeded by	Next Generation Submarine
Cost	NFS1 and NFS2 (including training center and development): €1.35 billion; NFS3: €500 million (+ €160 million of budget for additional developments); NFS4: €500 million;
Built	Since 2022
Planned	6
Building	4
Completed	0
General characteristics
Type	Attack submarine
Displacement	U212 NFS: 1,600 tonnes (1,600 long tons) surfaced; U212 NFS Evo: 2,000 tonnes (2,000 long tons);
Length	59 metres (193 ft 7 in)
Beam	7 metres (23 ft 0 in)
Height	12 metres (39 ft 4 in)
Decks	2
Complement	29
Sensors and ; processing systems	Sonar suite: Sphere-based Kaleidoscope 2.0 integrated sonar suite by ELAC SONAR; FAS (flank array sonar); CAS (cylindrical array sonar); MAS (mine avoidance sonar); CIA (Cylindrical intercept array); ONA HYD (own noise analysis hydrophones); SBE 1 (sonar beacon / distress pinger); SB 3050 2G (multi-beam echosounder); VE 5900 (naval echosounder); UT3000 2G (underwater communication system); Masts supplied by L3Harris and Calzoni:; Communication; electro-optical system; RESM/CESM; Systems:; New Italian combat system by Leonardo; Autopilot system by Avio Aero;
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	RESM/CESM on mast by Elettronica
Armament	Torpedoes:; 6 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes ; Leonardo Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedo; Missiles:; Land attack cruise missiles; UUV (unmanned underwater vessel):;

Last updated May 05, 2025

As part of the development of the Italian Navy submarine force for the period 2025 - 2050, the U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) and the U212 NFS EVO are being developed, for an introduction by 2036. By then, the Italian Navy will be equipped with four Todaro class (the U212A), four U212 NFS, and two U212 NFS EVO.^[8]

The Italian Navy is already preparing the development of the successor of the U212A, the NGS (New Generation Submarine) that will replace the U212A and that will start to be built from 2040. The Italian Navy is also developing a LDAUV (Large Displacement Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) to support the submarine force.^[8]

Project history

U212 NFS

In 2018 and 2019, the Italian Parliament released information regarding the funding of the successor of the 4 Sauro class submarines in order to maintain an 8-submarine force.^[9]

In November 2020, the Italian ministry of defence released their muti-year planning document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale) for 2020-2022 It mentions the plan to procure four new submarines in two phases for a total programme cost estimated at €2.68 billion.^[10]

The Italian Government mandated OCCAR to manage the U212 NFS programme on its behalf.^[9]

Phase 1

The phase 1 comprises:

Development of the U212 NFS submarine class
Procurement of 2 submarines
Construction of a training center
10 years technical-logistic in-service support

In February 2021, OCCAR and Fincantieri S.p.A (lead contractor) signed the contract of the phase 1 for €1.35 billion.

Phase 2

The phase 2 of the programme has 2 submarines that were to be purchased as an option. It includes:

Complementary development of the class
Procurement of 2 submarines
10 years technical-logistic in-service support for the 2 additional submarines

In December 2022, OCCAR committed to a third U212 NFS submarine.^[11] In July 2023, the contract was signed for a value of €500 million, and a complementary budget of €160 million for additional developments was also included in the contract.

The fourth U212 NFS was ordered in June 2024 for a value of €500 million.^[12]

U212 NFS EVO

In June 2024, the Italian Navy unveiled its plan for the fleet development for the period 2025 - 2050. It includes the development of a sub-class of the U212 NFS which will be larger (> 2,000 tonnes) and which will integrate technologies in development for the successor of the Todaro class, the NGS (Next Generation Submarine).^[13]

Ships of the class

Name	No.	Type	Builder	Contract	Laid down	Launched	Comm.	Homeport
Italian Navy
NFS1	S530	NFS	Fincantieri (Muggiano, La Spezia [ it ])	26 Feb 2021^[2]	11 Jan 2022^[14]	–	2027^[14]	Taranto Submarine Base [ it ]
NFS2	S531			26 Feb 2021^[2]	6 Jun 2023^[15]	–	2029^[14]
NFS3	S532			21 Jul 2023^[11]	27 Jun 2024^[12]	–	2030^[12]
NFS4	S533			27 Jun 2024^[12]	–	–	2032
–	–	NFS EVO	Fincantieri (Muggiano, La Spezia [ it ])	–	–	–	2036^[1]	–
–	–	NFS EVO	Fincantieri (Muggiano, La Spezia [ it ])	–	–	–	2036^[1]	–

Planned commissionning

Ships planned

Potential operators

Philippines: TKMS and Fincantieri signed an agreement in April 2025 to offer the U212 NFS to the Philippines, as part of the Horizon III modernisation initiative.^[16]

References

1 2 Mauri, Paolo (5 June 2024). "La Marina italiana punta sugli U212 Evo: cosa potranno fare i nuovi sottomarini" (in Italian).
1 2 "Italy's U212NFS Near Future Submarine Contract Signed" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ "Fincantieri Wins Order for 3rd U212 NSF for Italian Navy" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ "OCCAR Signs Development of Italy's Fourth Near Future Submarine" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ "INIZIO ATTIVITÀ PRODUTTIVA PER IL PRIMO SOTTOMARINO NFS DELLA MARINA MILITARE" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ "Marina Militare: Elac builds sonar suite for boat #3 U212 NFS". esut.de. January 10, 2024.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 "Il futuro della componente subacquea della Marina Militare (2025-2050) – Analisi Difesa" (in Italian). 2024-08-01. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
1 2 Peruzzi, Luca (2020-12-10). "Italy's New Type U212 NFS Submarine Program Moving Forward with OCCAR". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ Peruzzi, Luca (2020-11-23). "New ships, submarines and weapon systems for Italian Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
1 2 "OCCAR - 3rd U212 NFS Unit Commitment Signed". www.occar.int. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
1 2 3 4 "OCCAR - NFS 3 First Steel Cutting, Fourth Boat Option Activation, and Lithium Battery System Contract Amendment". occar.int. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ Peruzzi, Luca (2024-06-05). "Italy set to increase Submarine Force, Develop new U212 NFS EVO". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
1 2 3 Team, ESD Editorial (2023-06-01). "Maintaining Deterrence and Defence: Italy's Improving Submarine Capability Strengthens NATO's Southern Flank". euro-sd.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ Staff, Naval News (2023-06-07). "Fincantieri starts construction of the 2nd U212 NFS submarine for the Italian Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
↑ "Angebot U212 NFS für das philippinische Programm Horizon III" (in German). 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-04-16.

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[Next_Generation_Submarine_2040-1] 1 2 Mauri, Paolo (5 June 2024). "La Marina italiana punta sugli U212 Evo: cosa potranno fare i nuovi sottomarini" (in Italian).

[NFS1_and_2_order-2] 1 2 "Italy's U212NFS Near Future Submarine Contract Signed" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[NFS3_order-3] "Fincantieri Wins Order for 3rd U212 NSF for Italian Navy" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[4] "OCCAR Signs Development of Italy's Fourth Near Future Submarine" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[5] "INIZIO ATTIVITÀ PRODUTTIVA PER IL PRIMO SOTTOMARINO NFS DELLA MARINA MILITARE" . Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[Sonars_Sphere_ELAC-6] "Marina Militare: Elac builds sonar suite for boat #3 U212 NFS". esut.de. January 10, 2024.

[Armament_Naval-Technology-7] 1 2 3 4 5

[:2-8] 1 2 "Il futuro della componente subacquea della Marina Militare (2025-2050) – Analisi Difesa" (in Italian). 2024-08-01. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[Peruzzi-9] 1 2 Peruzzi, Luca (2020-12-10). "Italy's New Type U212 NFS Submarine Program Moving Forward with OCCAR". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[10] Peruzzi, Luca (2020-11-23). "New ships, submarines and weapon systems for Italian Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[:commitment_NFS3-11] 1 2 "OCCAR - 3rd U212 NFS Unit Commitment Signed". www.occar.int. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[NFS_3_First_Steel_Cutting2-12] 1 2 3 4 "OCCAR - NFS 3 First Steel Cutting, Fourth Boat Option Activation, and Lithium Battery System Contract Amendment". occar.int. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[13] Peruzzi, Luca (2024-06-05). "Italy set to increase Submarine Force, Develop new U212 NFS EVO". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[NFS1_Laid_down-14] 1 2 3 Team, ESD Editorial (2023-06-01). "Maintaining Deterrence and Defence: Italy's Improving Submarine Capability Strengthens NATO's Southern Flank". euro-sd.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[15] Staff, Naval News (2023-06-07). "Fincantieri starts construction of the 2nd U212 NFS submarine for the Italian Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-08-09.

[16] "Angebot U212 NFS für das philippinische Programm Horizon III" (in German). 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-04-16.

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v t e List of ships built by Fincantieri
Warships	Andrea Doria Assad-class corvettes Bergamini-class frigates Caio Duilio Carvajal Cassiopea-class patrol vessels Cavour Deepak Diciotti-class offshore patrol vessels Doha-class corvettes Durand de la Penne-class destroyers Esmeraldas-class corvette Etna Falaj 2-class patrol vessels Giuseppe Garibaldi Laksamana-class corvettes Maestrale-class frigates Minerva-class corvettes San Giorgio-class amphibious transport docks San Giusto Sauro-class submarines Scirè Shakti Toti-class submarines Vittorio Veneto Musherib-class offshore patrol vessels Villavicencio Vulcano-class logistic support ships
Cruise ships	Amsterdam Arcadia L'Austral Azura Le Boreal Britannia Caribbean Princess Carnival Breeze Carnival Conquest Carnival Dream Carnival Freedom Carnival Glory Carnival Horizon Carnival Liberty Carnival Magic Carnival Panorama Carnival Splendor Carnival Sunshine Carnival Sunrise Carnival Valor Carnival Victory Carnival Vista Concordia-class cruise ships Costa Concordia Costa Deliziosa Costa Diadema Costa Fascinosa Costa Firenze Costa Fortuna Costa Luminosa Costa Magica Costa neoClassica Costa neoRomantica Costa Pacifica Costa Serena Costa Venezia Crown Princess Dawn Princess Discovery Princess Destiny-class cruise ships Disney Magic Disney Wonder Emerald Princess Eurodam Fram Golden Princess Grand Princess Koningsdam Le Lyrial Maasdam Majestic Princess Marina Nieuw Amsterdam Nieuw Statendam Noordam Ocean Princess Oosterdam MS Ambience Pacific Jewel Queen Elizabeth Queen Victoria Regal Princess Riviera Rotterdam Royal Princess Ryndam Royal-class cruise ships Ruby Princess Sea Princess Seabourn Encore Seabourn Ovation MSC Seaside MSC Seaview Seven Seas Explorer Sky Princess Silver Muse Silver Spirit Le Soléal Star Princess Sun-class cruise ships Sun Princess (1995) Sphere-class cruise ships Sun Princess (2024) Star Princess The Calypso Vasco da Gama Veendam (1996) Ventura Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Sun Volendam Westerdam Zaandam Zuiderdam
Ferries	al-Salam Boccaccio 98 Almudaina Dos Gotlandia II Knossos Palace Festos Palace Hellenic Wind MDV1200-class fast ferries Pride of Hull Pride of Rotterdam Star-class ferries Speedrunner III Speedrunner IV Superstar
Cargo ships	Britannia Seaways Cape Victory Cape Vincent
Yachts	Destriero Serene Victory
Miscellaneous vessels	Alliance Castoro Sei Elettra Karadeniz Powership İrem Sultan Petrobras 36 Sagar Nidhi Saipem 7000 Scarabeo 8 Ta Kuan
Related	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico Fincantieri

v t e Ship classes of the Italian Navy
Aircraft carriers	Cavour ^S Giuseppe Garibaldi ^S
Amphibious ships	San Giorgio class LCM62 class MTM217 class MTP96 class
Destroyers	Nicoloso da Recco (Navigatori class)^C Grecale (Maestrale class)^C Granatiere (Soldati class)^C Artigliere class (Benson/Gleaves class)^X Fante class (Fletcher class)^X San Giorgio class Impetuoso class Impavido class Audace class Durand de la Penne class
Frigates	Aldebaran class (Cannon class)^X Centauro class Bergamini class Alpino class Lupo class Maestrale class Soldati class Orizzonte class Bergamini class
Corvettes	Antilope class Gabbiano class ^C Alabarda ^S Albatros class Sentinella ^S Pietro De Cristofaro class Minerva class
Patrol boats	Comandanti class Cassiopea class Sirio class Esploratore class Thaon di Revel class
Submarines	Enrico Tazzoli class (Gato class)^X Evangelista Torricelli class (Balao class)^X Gianfranco Gazzana-Priaroggia class (Tench class)^X Livio Piomarta class (Tang class)^X Marconi class Toti class Sauro class Todaro (Type 212)^X SRV-300 ^S
Minesweepers	Gaeta class Lerici class
Auxiliary ships	Etna class Stromboli class Anteo ^S Marino class Elettra ^S Alliance ^S Leonardo ^S Ammiraglio Magnaghi ^S Ninfe class Rossetti class Simeto class Bormida ^S Panarea class Gorgona class Ponza class GGS 1012 class Atlante class Ciclope class RP 101 class RP 113 class RP 118 class Ercole ^S Porto class Cheradi ^S Argo ^S
Training ships	Amerigo Vespucci Palinuro Italia Orsa Maggiore Caroly Capricia Stella Polare Corsaro II
Floating dry docks	GO 59 GO 58 GO 55 GO 52 GO 22 GO 20 GO 11
Future ships	LHD Trieste PPA LSS Vulcano Cabrini class (UNPAV) USSP UIOM DDX
S Single ship of class C Served in World War II X Imported

Class overview

Name	U212 NFS U212 NFS EVO
Builders	Fincantieri S.p.A.
Operators	Future operator: Italian Navy
Preceded by	Sauro class submarine
Succeeded by	Next Generation Submarine^[1]
Cost	NFS1 and NFS2 (including training center and development): €1.35 billion^[2] NFS3: €500 million (+ €160 million of budget for additional developments)^[3] NFS4: €500 million^[4]
Built	Since 2022^[5]
Planned	6
Building	4
Completed	0
General characteristics
Type	Attack submarine
Displacement	U212 NFS: 1,600 tonnes (1,600 long tons) surfaced U212 NFS Evo: 2,000 tonnes (2,000 long tons)
Length	59 metres (193 ft 7 in)
Beam	7 metres (23 ft 0 in)
Height	12 metres (39 ft 4 in)
Decks	2
Complement	29
Sensors and processing systems	Sonar suite: Sphere-based Kaleidoscope 2.0 integrated sonar suite by ELAC SONAR^[6] FAS (flank array sonar) CAS (cylindrical array sonar) MAS (mine avoidance sonar) CIA (Cylindrical intercept array) ONA HYD (own noise analysis hydrophones) SBE 1 (sonar beacon / distress pinger) SB 3050 2G (multi-beam echosounder) VE 5900 (naval echosounder) UT3000 2G (underwater communication system) Masts supplied by L3Harris and Calzoni:^[7] Communication electro-optical system RESM/CESM Systems: New Italian combat system by Leonardo Autopilot system by Avio Aero
Electronic warfare & decoys	RESM/CESM on mast by Elettronica^[7]
Armament	Torpedoes:^[7] 6 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes Leonardo Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedo Missiles:^[7] Land attack cruise missiles UUV (unmanned underwater vessel):^[7]