Germany TKMS to modernize Type 212A submarines for German Navy to maintain undersea capability.

According to information published by TKMS on June 27, 2025, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has secured a €800 million contract with the Federal Office of German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to conduct a decade-long modernization of the German Navy’s six Type 212A submarines. Signed in Koblenz, this comprehensive program will upgrade key onboard systems to ensure Germany retains technological superiority in underwater warfare and remains fully prepared for future challenges in national and NATO alliance defense.
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German Navy Type 212A submarine equipped with an air-independent propulsion system during a patrol mission. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The Type 212A submarine program began in the late 1990s as a joint venture between Germany and Italy to create a next-generation non-nuclear submarine optimized for littoral and blue water operations. Commissioned between 2005 and 2016, the German fleet of six Type 212A submarines represents the cutting edge of diesel-electric submarine design. Featuring air-independent propulsion (AIP) based on hydrogen fuel cell technology, the 212A class enables extended submerged operations without surfacing, offering a high degree of stealth, endurance, and operational flexibility. These submarines are equipped with advanced sonar suites, torpedo weapon systems, and highly automated combat management systems, making them among the most sophisticated conventional submarines in the world.

The modernization project led by TKMS will focus particularly on overhauling the navigation and combat systems on the first batch of four submarines, aligning them with evolving technological standards and the latest operational doctrines. By doing so, the German Navy ensures interoperability with future platforms, including the upcoming Type 212CD submarines jointly developed with Norway. These enhancements are vital to maintaining Germany’s strategic undersea deterrent, especially in the Baltic and North Sea regions where underwater dominance and intelligence gathering are essential to national and alliance security.

Germany's continued investment in its submarine fleet is a testament to its recognition of undersea warfare as a cornerstone of modern maritime power. As Europe faces growing geopolitical tensions and the resurgence of submarine threats in contested maritime zones, the ability to deploy silent, survivable, and technologically superior submarines is more critical than ever. The Type 212A submarines serve not only as frontline combat assets but also as platforms for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and special forces operations. By modernizing these vessels, Germany reinforces its role as a key maritime actor within NATO, capable of supporting high-intensity naval operations and ensuring freedom of navigation in strategically vital waters.

The contract with TKMS is thus more than a maintenance effort; it is a strategic move to sustain Germany’s operational edge in the undersea domain, secure long-term fleet readiness, and ensure that the German Navy remains a potent force in the evolving maritime security landscape of the 21st century.