Fincantieri's underwater technology projects
Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano
Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri SpA recently disclosed its latest results and plans for the future. It plans to receive a significant portion of its profits, as it does now, from orders for the construction of warships of various classes. In particular, much attention will be paid to submarine shipbuilding. Several promising projects are already being developed and implemented in this area.
Production potential
In its advertising materials and presentations, Fincantieri mentions its extensive experience in submarine construction. It was founded in 1959 by merging several shipbuilding companies that had been involved in submarines since the early XNUMXth century.
The development of the underwater direction continues to this day. Several structural divisions of the company are involved in it. The main site for the construction of submarines is the Fincantieri plant in Muggiano (La Spezia municipality). In addition, the company attracts other organizations to cooperation, both Italian and foreign.
All current underwater technology projects have been developed within the framework of such cooperation. In a recent presentation, the company mentioned two submarine projects and one unmanned vehicle. They also talked about new technologies and systems that are being developed for such technology.
Fincantieri regularly boasts of its successes in the commercial market. It has a fairly large portfolio of civil and military orders. At the same time, submarines and underwater vehicles currently account for only 4% of total revenues. In the next two to three years, it is proposed to take measures to promote such products and double revenues from this area.
Submarine of the near future
Fincantieri's main project in the field of underwater fleet Currently, the construction of submarines of the U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) project is underway. In essence, this is a deep modernization of the existing U212 project, aimed at improving the main characteristics of the existing ship without its radical restructuring.
The U212-class diesel-electric submarine Salvatore Todaro of the Italian Navy
At the end of the last decade, the Italian Navy ordered the construction of four U212 NFS submarines. The first two ships of this project were laid down in February 2021. Two more keel-laying ceremonies took place in July 2023 and June 2024. All four hulls are still on the slipways, and the launch dates remain unknown.
Under the terms of the current contract, the first U212 NFS submarine will be delivered to the customer by the end of 2027. The next three are expected from 2029 to 2032. The total cost of building such a series will exceed 2,5 billion euros. It is possible that by this time Fincantieri will receive export orders and begin fulfilling them.
The developer is also working on a further upgrade of the project, designated U212 NFS EVO. The Italian Navy is considering building at least two such ships. However, plans have not been finalized and no contracts have been signed yet.
The U212 NFS project envisages the construction of diesel-electric submarines with torpedo armament. Such a ship has a traditional architecture and a single-hull design. The total length of the diesel-electric submarine reaches 59 m with a width of 7 m. The full displacement of the submarine is 1,6 thousand tons. The future Evo project envisages an increase in displacement by 400 tons and corresponding changes in dimensions.
U212 NFS receives a diesel-electric power plant of traditional architecture. Modern diesel engines and electric motors are used. Energy is stored in lithium-ion batteries of increased capacity. This will provide high running characteristics and improve autonomy.
The modernized diesel-electric submarine receives a set of modern electronic equipment. It is envisaged to use a full-fledged combat information and control system. The review will be provided by the Kaleidoscope 2.0 hydroacoustic complex from the German company Elac Sonar, which includes several stations and antennas for various purposes.
The submarine will be equipped with six bow torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber. It will be able to use torpedoes of different types, including the new product Black Shark Advanced from Leonardo. The diesel-electric submarine will also receive cruise missiles missiles, launched through torpedo tubes. It will be able to become a carrier of remotely controlled or autonomous underwater vehicles.
Proposed appearance of the S800 submarine
Universal platform
Fincantieri is already planning for the distant future. To this end, a new generation diesel-electric submarine project is being developed under the working designation S800. It proposes to use proven solutions and new ideas, which is expected to have a positive impact on the ship's characteristics and capabilities.
The S800 project proposes to build a submarine of modular architecture with replaceable equipment or weapons. The composition of the onboard equipment will be determined by the customer at the construction preparation stage. Re-equipping the diesel-electric submarine before certain missions is also not excluded.
The S800 submarine will be built in a cylindrical hull with a hemispherical bow and conical stern; the traditional conning tower and fencing will be retained. The total length of the ship will reach 51 m. The displacement is not specified, but with such dimensions it will not exceed 1,5-1,8 thousand tons.
The power plant for the S800 will be based on the developments of the current U212 NFS and EVO projects. Both existing components and new products relevant at the time of construction of the diesel-electric submarine will be used.
In the bow of the hull, at the top, there is space for installing weapons - torpedo tubes of the desired caliber, including with the ability to launch missiles. A second similar volume is provided behind the wheelhouse under the deck. It can contain torpedoes or missiles of a larger size. It is also possible to place underwater vehicles or airlocks for combat swimmers.
Unmanned vehicle
Fincantieri is also developing autonomous underwater technology of several types and classes. For example, recently, the promising LDAUV (Large Displacement Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) project was mentioned for the first time in open materials.
The goal of the LDAUV project is to create a heavy underwater platform capable of carrying various loads and operating independently. The future AUV will be several meters long and have a displacement of tons. It will have to be transported outside the carrier submarine or used from surface vessels.
Submarine with LDAUV apparatus (marked with a circle)
It is assumed that the LDAUV will be able to carry hydroacoustic equipment of different types. It is also possible to install additional surveillance equipment for work on the surface - radar or optical.
The device will require a special control system capable of fully controlling the operation of all units, responding to changes in conditions, etc. The power plant will be made electric. The source of energy will be high-capacity batteries, possibly tested in previous projects.
The LDAUV project is currently in its early stages of development. It is not yet known how soon the design will be completed and the prototype UAV will be built. Given the importance of this project, it can be expected that Fincantieri will do everything possible to complete it as soon as possible.
Control systems
The combat capability and other qualities of a modern navy depend not only on the composition of the ships. Communication and control systems used for data exchange, transmission of orders, etc. are of great importance. Fincantieri and related organizations pay attention to this issue as well.
There are two promising projects currently being developed in this area: UMS (Underwater Management System) and USV (Unmanned Surface Vessels). As their names suggest, their goal is to create control systems for underwater and surface fleets of unmanned vehicles.
The UMS system is intended for underwater unmanned systems. It will include a set of terminals, control stations and communication systems of various kinds. With its help, an information and control network will be formed, ensuring the transfer of all necessary data and orders.
Such a system will allow monitoring large fleets of AUVs and managing their work, ensuring the solution of various tasks. Unmanned vehicles will be able to work individually or in groups. UMS will also ensure their interaction with submarines, surface fleet or coastal structures. It is assumed that such a communication organization will speed up data transfer and provide other advantages. Apparently, UMS will be able to interact with the USV system. This will additionally improve the capabilities of the navy.
Big plans
Fincantieri is one of the largest shipbuilding companies in Europe. It implements various projects, including in the field of military shipbuilding. The company demonstrates certain successes in this area and is developing new projects.
The company is currently fulfilling an order for four U212 NFS diesel-electric submarines for the Italian Navy, and is also developing a new version of this project. At the same time, it is working on new models of underwater equipment and is looking for customers for it. Whether all these plans will be fulfilled will become clear in the next few years.
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