[R&D] Type 222 Submarine

Germany will commence an upgrade package for the Type 214 and Type 212 class submarines currently in German service. These upgrades are required in light of recent exercises in the Baltic Sea, where airborne surveillance successfully detected U31 and U33, much to our chagrin.

The principal upgrades are as follows:

• Advanced electro-optic sensors using fibre optic relays outside the hull of the vessels, to bring greater detection capabilities for diesel-electric submarines
• Magnetic detectors and enhanced acoustic detection sensors, primarily designed in response to worldwide proliferation of super-cavitating torpedoes and magnetohydrodnamic propulsion drives
• Rapid-filling ballast chamber modifications, to increase dive speeds around 40% on current levels, alongside stress modifications to the outer hull to strengthen it against the consequential rapid pressure increases
• Upgrades to the hydrogen cells, to add greater power, and removal of diesel-electric propulsion systems in favour of a full transition to hydrogen cells
• Improvements to the skew-back propeller systems, reducing noise from the propellors by significant levels
• So-called pump-jet technology, as demonstrated on Chinese, American and most likely Russian new designs, to reduce the possibility of detection from flow anomalies in the wake of the vessel
• Increased automation of minor systems and improved computer capabilities, reducing the crew required to 19 and 4 officers, and as such increasing endurance of supplies available

These upgrades will begin immediately, and will in theory take 6 months to complete per submarine, with 2 submarines being upgraded at a single time. In addition, Germany will order a seventh boat of the class, the U37, to maintain the shipbuilding industry in the submarine yards in Kiel. This boat shall be delivered in Q3 of 2036.

This programme is estimated to cost €80 million per vessel and extend their lifespan into the late 2060s. New Type 222 vessels will cost €370 million.