Norwegian and German U212CD submarines to be based together in Norway

Norwegian and German U212CD submarines will be based together in Haakonsvern, Southern Norway. (tkMS)

Norwegian and German U212CD (Common Design) submarines are to be based together in Southern Norway, Janes has learnt.

A Norwegian Ministry of Defence official told Janes on 7 June that a new base for the U212CD, including infrastructure, would be built at Haakonsvern, where Norway's current Ula-class submarines are already based. The new infrastructure will include pier, maintenance, and test facilities for the U212CD.

Germany and Norway plan joint U212CD operations on NATO's northern flank amid a continuing Russian submarine threat.

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) and Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr: BAAINBw) ordered six U212CD submarines from thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) and Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Block 1A missiles from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in July 2021 as part of German-Norwegian co-operation. At the time, Norway ordered four U212CDs and Germany two of the boats, but the Norwegian government requested at least one more submarine. The foreign affairs and defence committee of the Storting, Norway's parliament, added another U212CD for a total of six in the long-term defence plan that the Norwegian government announced on 4 June had been approved.

Delivery of the Norwegian U212CDs are planned for 2029–35. In the meantime, Norway plans to modernise its Ula-class submarines to extend their lifetime until the U212CDs replace them. tkMS expects the two U212CDs for the German Navy to be delivered in 2032 and 2034.

In July 2021 tkMS signed a co-operation agreement with Kongsberg, which also signed a contract with Norway and Germany to deliver its ORCCA combat system for U212CD submarines.

For more information on the U212 submarine, please see