European shipbuilders Fincantieri and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) have signed an industrial cooperation agreement to offer submarine capabilities to the Philippine Navy.
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is offering its U212 Near Future Submarine as part of the agreement under Manila’s Horizon III military modernization initiative.
The submarine is being developed for the Italian Navy in collaboration with Germany’s TKMS.
An evolution of the HDW Class U212A, the submarine features advanced capabilities such as air-independent propulsion and low acoustic, magnetic, and visual signatures.
“With decades of experience in submarine construction, Fincantieri has developed a solid expertise in delivering high-performance naval solutions,” Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero said.
“This cooperation is a key milestone in promoting our international export strategy, leveraging the latest cutting-edge Italian and German technologies and quality.”
As part of the proposed partnership, the two shipbuilders have offered to strengthen local infrastructure and support the development of a new naval base for the Philippine Navy, leveraging their design expertise.
Other Contenders
Other contenders for the potential procurement include the French Naval Group, South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, and Spain’s Navantia.
Naval Group has proposed its Scorpène submarine, while Hanwha has submitted two options: the new KSS-III PN and the older Ocean 1400PN.
Meanwhile, Navantia is offering its S-80 submarine.
Philippines Defense Modernization
Horizon III, or Re-Horizon III, is the final phase of the Philippines’ three-stage defense modernization effort, which began in 2013.
As part of the two-trillion Philippine peso ($35 billion) Re-Horizon III program, the country is considering acquiring at least two submarines to bolster archipelagic defense amid rising tensions with an assertive Chinese Navy.
The Southeast Asian country comprises over 7,000 islands and has a vast exclusive economic zone, including disputed waters in the South China Sea. The Philippine Navy currently operates no submarines.
