Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) have signed an Industrial Cooperation Agreement to jointly offer U212-class submarines to the Philippine Navy. The agreement is part of the companies’ broader strategy to participate in the Submarine Acquisition Program under Horizon 3 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP).
The Philippine Navy’s current procurement plan includes two diesel-electric submarines and associated support infrastructure, with a total budget allocation of USD 1.7 billion. The initiative forms part of a long-term effort to enhance the country’s maritime defense capabilities. While discussions around acquiring submarines began in 2012, ongoing developments in the South China Sea have led to renewed attention on naval modernization. Philippine defense officials have indicated that the acquisition of submarines is being evaluated alongside other priorities, such as anti-submarine warfare assets and support facilities.
The U212-class submarines being offered feature air-independent propulsion and non-magnetic hull materials. The model is already in service with both the German and Italian navies.
The Fincantieri-TKMS proposal joins a competitive field that includes France’s Naval Group, Spain’s Navantia, and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean. Financing support from the French and South Korean governments has been noted in earlier proposals. Horizon 3 has a projected total budget of USD 34 billion through the 2030s.
(Source: US Naval Institute)
