Norway has approved the acquisition of two additional Class 212CD submarines for the Royal Norwegian Navy, increasing the planned fleet to six as part of its long-term undersea warfare strategy.
The decision, taken on the recommendation of Chief of Defence General Eirik Kristoffersen, is intended to improve fleet availability and ensure continuous submarine operations.
To finance the expanded purchase, the Norwegian government has proposed boosting the programme budget by 46 billion kroner, or about $4.77 billion.
Norway is currently procuring four 212CD submarines from thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), with two already under construction in Germany and the first delivery scheduled for 2029.
With Germany’s parallel commitments, the combined German–Norwegian 212CD programme has now reached its planned ceiling of 12 submarines.
To sustain the increased production tempo, Norway will co-finance the establishment of a second submarine production line in Germany, helping protect delivery schedules.
The joint programme aims to achieve economies of scale through shared development, training, crewing, logistics, and maintenance, while fielding a platform fully interoperable with NATO forces and optimised for high-end missions, including Arctic operations.
Compared to the Type 212A, the 212CD is substantially larger—around 73 metres in length with a displacement of roughly 2,500 tonnes, versus 56 metres and 1,524 tonnes for the earlier class.
The design features advanced sensor suites, extended operational range, and a reduced acoustic signature to enable covert, persistent operations.
The submarines will be equipped with DM2A4 heavyweight torpedoes and the SeaSpider anti-torpedo defence system, with further options under review, including a submarine-launched Naval Strike Missile and a jointly developed supersonic strike missile.
Looking ahead, the programme could also expand to supply up to 12 submarines for Canada, with TKMS working alongside German and Norwegian partners in the ongoing competition.
