Tongdao Think Tank 2024-01-29 09:51 Published in Beijing
Italy's next-generation U212NFS submarine will use an advanced lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery system, according to Navy News on January 28.
The lithium-ion battery system test results are expected to improve the operational efficiency of the submarine while enhancing propulsion and endurance, reducing maintenance and achieving the highest level of onboard safety.
This technological leap underscores Italy's commitment to investing in advanced technology and being at the forefront of maritime defense capabilities.
Another key aspect is the roadmap for activating the NFS4 optional package, which will bring the total number of ships to four, with logistical and in-service support.
Figure: Lithium-ion battery system on U212NFS.
The U212NFS project team is building a new Underwater Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) platform for the Italian Navy. The project team is managed by OCCAR on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Naval Armaments (N**ARM) and involves large national industrial teams and key technical personnel. The international company will have a lithium-ion battery system (LBS) developed and developed by Italian industry.
According to the news released by Okka, "The prototype of the cutting-edge LBS component passed the relevant performance and safety test package, setting a milestone on the road to the technology implemented on board." ”
During the 2023 Joint Naval Event of Naval Leaders in Farnboreu, Admiral Maurizio Cannarozzo, head of the U212NFS project team, said that the decision to adopt LBS for the U212NFS platform will be made within the same timeline, confirming that the Italian Navy is adopting key technologies for development and combat capabilities, and that the program is positioned at the forefront of maritime defense capabilities.
The decision follows a rigorous and persistent program launched in 2009 by the Italian Ministry of Defense's N**ARM. The program was co-founded by the Italian Ministry of Defense and the National Industrial Team as part of the National Military Research Program (PNRM). The latter, as well as its subsequent evolution, is supported by the full and continuous support of the Navy's submarine team, N**ARM and the Italian Ministry of Defense, with funding for the U212NFS program guaranteed by Italian Enterprises and the Italian Ministry of Manufacturing. The initial industrial team has since grown and today includes Fib-FAAM of the Seri Industries Group, Power4Future (P4F), a joint venture between Fincantieri SI and Faist Electronics, Cetena of Fincantieri and TÜV Rheinland certification bodies. LBS includes a battery management system and a LiFePO4 battery module.
This milestone will allow the project office and industrial teams to move on to the subsequent prototyping and pre-production phases, opening the way for the production and installation of the U212NFS submarine. The next-generation energy storage system will be installed from the delivery of first-class ships in early 2028. In addition to the U212NFS platform, the LBS has been developed in order to be compatible and adaptable to current U212A vessels, allowing for easy switching to the new technology once the in-service vessels undergo an interim update (MLU).
Allegedly, Japan already has lithium-ion battery submarines. South Korea is expected to follow suit in the near future. France is proposing to Indonesia to build a lithium-ion submarine. TKMS in Germany is also working on this technology. This technology is slowly becoming a "must-have" for the design of modern diesel-electric submarines.