Kongsberg awarded combat system upgrade contract for Norway's Ula-class submarines

KMN Uredd (S 305), one of six Ula-class SSKs in service with the RNoN. The class will be replaced by new Type 212CD SSKs by the mid-2030s. (Michael Nitz/Naval Press Service)

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been awarded a contract by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) to carry out further combat system upgrades in support of the Royal Norwegian Navy's (RNoN's) Ula (Type 210)-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) life-extension programme.

The scope of the contract, announced by Kongsberg on 23 September and worth around NOK436 million (USD41.5 million), covers upgrades to software and hardware components of the Ula-class combat management system (CMS).

The contract is the latest in a series of phased Ula-class combat system upgrades delivered by Kongsberg that will contribute to keeping the Ula-class SSKs operational until the new Type 212CD submarines are introduced into service in the 2030s. Earlier combat system enhancements addressed sonar inboard processing, command and weapon control, enhanced connectivity, and weapon interfaces.

Kongsberg is the original supplier of the Ula-class MSI-90U Mk 2 CMS, an evolved version of which is also being delivered for the replacement Type 212CD submarines.

Six Type 212CD SSKs have so far been ordered from thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) to meet the joint requirements of Germany and Norway under a contract awarded by the NDMA and Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in July 2021. The acquisition, which is valued at approximately EUR5.5 billion (USD6.1 billion), covers four boats for the RNoN and two identical ‘common design' boats for the German Navy.