RESEARCH FINDINGS | SUBMARINE PROCUREMENT PROGRAMMES 2019

29 - 31 OCTOBER 2019, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDSWWW.DEFENCELEADERS.COM

The inaugural Submarine Technology conference to be held in Amsterdam between the 29th-31st October 2019, will explore and expand on the challenges identified throughout the programme’s research. Submarine Technology 2019 will draw on the knowledge of esteemed international speakers and attendees to share innovative solutions and bring this unique community together.

Within this document, you will find and learn about some of the many submarine programmes that nations are conducting or planning on beginning in the near future. As well as the aforementioned, you will learn about some of the exciting speakers already confirmed for Submarine Technology 2019.

At Defence Leaders, we hope you find this paper informative and we very much look forward to welcoming you to Amsterdam in October 2019 for the inaugural Submarine Technology conference and exhibition.

Canada

The Canadian Victoria-Class Submarines, formerly the UK Upholder-Class, were brought into service by the Royal Canadian Navy between June 2005 and September 2015 with the class experiencing many problems throughout its relatively short service within the RCN.

In April 2015 Canada announced a major life-extension of the Victoria-Class, with the project preliminarily beginning in March of this year (2019) and more extensive work expected within the next few years before the first of the class reaches end-of-life in 2023. It is expected the overall spend on the extensive life-extension will exceed the $2bn mark that many officials are working towards.

As part of the Canadian Submarine program and the life-extension, materiel certification plays a very important role in maintaining submarine safety and the ensuring the availability of the capability; it is for this reason that Canada are one of the key nations speaking at Submarine Technology 2019.

Mr Gordon MacDonald from The Formation Technical Authority / Maritime Forces Atlantic - Canadian Armed Forces, will be speaking on the topic of materiel certification and the Canadian experience of this difficult and prolonged task that is key in maintaining the safety of Canadian submarines.

France

The French Navy are currently focused on various aspects of their impressive submarine program and as a nuclear power, they are undoubtedly a world leader in this domain.

The French are in the stages of reviewing the first of their Suffren-Class SSN, alongside planning for their future class of SSBN - referred to by many as the 3G SNLE; which is reported as being a $4.4bn programme for two new SSBN assets. The importance of synergy with the Suffren and 3G SNLE in many areas, particularly Navigation and Combat systems, is an important area of focus for CEPN and the Navy in late 2019-early 2020.

Sea trials of the first of Class are on-going, with reviews of the navigation and combat systems in progress. Systems reviews are also being started on the Duguay-Trouin which is the 2nd of the Suffren-Class boats.

Commander Bruno Sola, Deputy Director, French Navy - CEPN (Center of Expertise for Naval Programs) will be discussing the Combat systems of the Suffren-Class at the Submarine Technology meeting in October. CDR Sola will delve into the planned synergy between the Suffren, Le Triomphant and the 3G SNLE, and why and how the French Navy maintain coordination between classes.

Germany

Germany’s submarine fleet is undergoing a large modernisation project, with the delivery of the first two Type 212CDs expected in the mid-2020s. By the delivery of these new Common Design (CD) models, however, the oldest four Type 212A submarines will be approaching their end of life. This is a big concern for the German Navy, who are planning an overhaul of the older boats, whilst maintaining operational availability and the managing the delivery of the new boats.

The reality of the Common Design program, however, means both the costs and challenges are being shared with the Norwegians, who are also taking responsibility for the in-service-support of the new class. This shared venture will take some pressure off the Germans whilst they deal with the four aging Type 2121A boats.

Commander Timo Cordes, Commander 1st Submarine Squadron of the German Navy will be speaking at Submarine Technology on the challenges German submarines experience in navigating the Baltic Sea. CDR Cordes will elaborate on how the X rudder configuration is aiding his operations and how the Germans are effectively navigating in an extremely congested environment.

NATO

NATO SUBCOM are becoming increasingly focussed on the topic of deconfliction; with many navies increasing their operations in heavily contested areas such as the Mediterranean, Baltic, GIUK Gap and the South China Sea, the risk of accidental collision, inadvertent threatening behaviour and eventually confrontation is of real concern.

Adding the energy and commercial shipping sectors into the mix increases background noise and sea traffic that navies must contend with. These ‘pinch points’ and confined waters are a real concern to those at NATO SUBCOM and many nations worldwide, with avoidance of conflict their primary concern and overall goal.

Commander Geordie Klein, the NATO SUBCOM Branch Head of Operations will be opening the second main day of Submarine Technology with a view at NATO’s view of deconfliction and the importance of establishing an underwater code of conduct. CDR Klein will introduce the work of the Submarine Movement Advisory Authority and address concerns such as information sharing, trust and NATO operations in these contested environments.

Alongside Commander Klein, CDR Gennaro Vitagliano, NATO ISMERLO Branch Head, will be joining the conference with a much requested update on NATO’s rescue policy for 2020 and the future.

Spain

Spain’s plans for renewing their aging submarine fleet are progressing well despite the many problems along the way. They are currently replacing the Galerna-Class(Agosta) with the Navantia-built S-80-Class Submarines, which many in Spain are now referring to as the S80+, due to its increased length following the re-surfacing issue discovered back in 2013. However, the Galerna-Class are far from redundant, with reported plans to refit and overhaul the class, increasing Spain’s capability and number of boats.

The S80 will be the first AIP submarine used by the Spanish Navy, undoubtedly pulling their submarine service firmly into the 21st Century and pulling Navantia into competition with the likes of TKMS, SAAB Kockums and Naval Group for the upcoming Walrus replacement and many other planned procurement projects across the world.

The importance of the Spanish submarine project is a main reason that Commander Carlos Gárate Pasquín, the Spanish Navy Operational Program Officer for the S80-Class is joining us in Amsterdam. CDR Gárate Pasquín will be discussing the challenges associated with maintaining the S80 submarine, how the Navy works closely with industry partners and how the navy has overhauled the original S80 design to create the new S80(+).

Accompanying CDR Garate Pasquin will be Commander Agusto Conte-Rios, EW Program Officer S80, who will be briefing the conference on the EW and SATCOM technologies used aboard the S80 submarine, allowing this class to function in a truly modern operating environment.

The Spanish have also recognised their requirement to construct another submarine rescue ship - their current ship, the Neptuno, has been in service since 1975 and is no longer up to the task it was designed for.

By constructing a new, modern rescue vessel, the Spanish Navy will be better prepared for deep sea rescue, supporting NATO ISMERLO and actively preparing for the worst. The vessel is to be based off the design of the modular Meteoro-Class OPV and although it is yet to begin construction, it should be ready by the time the Isaac Peral is operational in 2020.

The Netherlands

The Walrus replacement programme is still up in the air, with the contracts to be awarded in 2020/21. The Netherlands are spending $2bn on 4 Submarines. The relatively recent Dutch industry strategy, released in November 2018, states that the production of maritime platforms should be a mostly indigenous affair; with only around 25% coming from overseas suppliers. For this reason the four separate options for the replacement have recently made alterations to their offerings, prompting the Dutch State Secretary for Defence to announce a postponement on their decision until Summer in order to fully review these offerings.

The current options for the Walrus replacement are:

• Damen & SAAB – working together on a derivative of the Swedish A26 design, Damen and SAAB signed an agreement back in 2015 to work together for this contract. The duo will work together using SAAB’s knowledge and experience of the A26 and Collins Class submarines, as well as the Gotland modernisation; building an expeditionary submarine with AIP. Whilst Damen is on board to bring the project home to the Netherlands and stimulate the Dutch naval industry. The duo has already got the support of many Dutch companies and have resolved to build sections in Sweden and assemble in Vlissingen in the Netherlands.

• Naval Group & Royal IHC– offering a diesel-electric version of the Nuclear French Barracuda submarine Naval group have teamed up with Dutch based IHC and opened an office in the Netherlands to support this project and the MCM procurement. In this agreement Naval Group would design the subs with the Dutch, whilst IHC would construct and outfit the boats in The Netherlands. Similarly to the Damen/SAAB agreement, this would bring the boat home and heavily support Dutch industry. However, at 99.5m, the Barracuda design would have to be tailored for the Dutch requirements.

• TKMS – ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Submarines are currently operating in 19 navies, including their home nation of Germany. TKMS undoubted experience in building submarines to operate in differing environments makes them a very viable option for the Walrus replacement. Coupling this with TKMS reaction to the recent Dutch Industry Strategy and a promise to increase the Dutch production element if they are chosen, the remain a contender. However, there are some doubts in the Royal Netherlands Navy regarding whether the designs of the 212CD or 218SG as 56m submarines, match the capability of the 68m Walrus. The 216-concept proposed for the Royal Australian Navy SEA1000 project is an option touted by some, but at 90m this design would need to be adapted for the Dutch project also.

• Navantia – The Spanish state shipyard is offering a variant of their S80 design as an option to the RNN; they are very keen on operating with Dutch industry and have an option to work with Damen in the later stages. Having a history of working with the Netherlands in the landing platform dock procurement gives them an edge with the MOD and DMO; however, the issues with the original S80 design are a put-off for many. Having re-designed the S80 and created the new 10m longer S80+, the Spanish shipyard are pushing their ‘Parent Navy’ solution which would include the sharing of resources, training cooperation, logistical support and operational synergy. Due to the depth of their offer, Navantia are certainly still in the running for this project.

Captain Herman de Groot, Commanding Officer Submarine Service Netherlands, Royal Netherlands Navy will be joining the Submarine Technology symposium in October to provide the opening keynote presentation to the conference.

CPT de Groot will be opening this conference with a discussion on the increasing importance of submarines for The Netherlands and how his submarine service views the future of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

For a full list of our events and further information, please visit www.defenceleaders.com

DEFENCE LEADERS PORTFOLIO OF EVENTS

MARITIME SEARCH & RESCUE FUTURE SURFACE FLEET

NAVAL DAMAGE CONTROL

SUBMARINETECHNOLOGY

GLOBAL DEFENCEHELICOPTER

COMBATENGINEER

COMBATLOGISTICS

UNDERWATER DEFENCE& SECURITY

• Dr O. R. Nandagopan Director, Indian Naval Science & Technological Laboratory – DRDO, Indian Ministry of Defence

• Captain Maurizio Cannarozzo, Chief of the Submarine department, Italian Naval Armaments Directorate

• Vice Admiral Henrique Gouviea e Melo, Commander of the Fleet, Portuguese Navy

• Dr Joseph Cotter, Research Associate, Centre for Cold Matter Research – Imperial College London

• Commander Espen Engebretsen, Submarine Safety Manager and Engineering Superintendent, Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency

• Commander SG Trond Juvik, Chief Enterprise Officer P6346 New Submarines, Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency

OTHER CONFIRMED SPEAKERS FOR SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY 2019: