The keel-laying ceremony for the second next-generation U212NFS (Near Future Submarine) destined for the Italian Navy was held at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard.
The milestone is a part of the program for the construction of four submarines and the development of the related logistic support, managed and entrusted to OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement), the international organization responsible for managing cooperative programmes in the defense sector.
Delivery of the second unit is scheduled for 2030.
The U212NFS submarine class represents a substantial evolution compared to its U212A predecessors, thanks to greater design maturity, a higher level of Italian-developed technology, and enhanced integration of onboard systems.
Innovations developed by Italian industry, including the lithium-ion propulsion battery and the new combat management system, are expected to ensure greater stealth, endurance, efficiency, and cyber resilience.
The program has also recently been strengthened through contractual integration, which has expanded activities relating to new technological capabilities and the integrated logistic support of the units, further strengthening Fincantieri’s capabilities throughout the submarines’ entire lifecycle.
The program originated with a February 2021 contract between OCCAR and Fincantieri for two U212 NFS submarines, with options for two additional boats. The initial contract for the first two submarines and associated logistics support was valued at €1.35 billion.
According to Fincantieri's published specifications, the U212 NFS is 58.35 meters long and has a pressure-hull diameter of 7 meters. Its displacement is listed at 1,550 tonnes surfaced and 1,750 tonnes submerged.
The first U212 NFS, Goffredo Mameli, reached its keel-laying milestone at Muggiano on February 27, 2026.