잠수함 노르웨이, 울라급 잠수함 전투체계 업그레이드 실시

[위종민]

노르웨이가 1989년 취역해 2029년 독일과 공동건조하는 212CD급 잠수함이 취역할 때까지 운영할 예정인 울라급 잠수함의 전투체계 소프트웨어 및 하드웨어 업그레이드 작업을 실시할 예정입니다. 콩스베르그가 4억 3,600만 크로네 (4,150만 달러) 규모의 계약을 수주했네요. 

위키에 따르면 울라급은 2006년 링크 11 및 ESM 장비 개량, 새로운 잠망경 장착, 2008년 신형 소나 장착 등의 업그레이드를 받았고, 2012년 전투시스템 업그레이드를 받았네요. 

Kongsberg to upgrade Norway's Ula-class submarines - Naval Today

Kongsberg to upgrade Norway's Ula-class submarines

Kongsberg to upgrade Norway’s Ula-class submarines

Vessels

September 23, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has signed an agreement with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) for upgrades to Norway’s Ula-class submarines to extend their operational life.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace

Kongsberg supplied the combat system to the Ula-class and has previously conducted upgrade programs. The latest upgrades will contribute to keep the Ula-class operational until the new 212CD submarines are being introduced in the 2030s.

The contract is worth about NOK 436 million ($41.5 million) and the scope of work includes upgrades to software and hardware to the combat system on board the Ula class submarines.

“KONGSBERG is pleased to be part of the update program ensuring the Ula-class’ operational capability until the next generation of submarines arrives,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

Kongsberg is also supplying the combat system for the new 212CD submarines, which are being delivered to Norway and Germany in the future.

The design phase for the six German-Norwegian Type 212CD submarines was recently concluded, German shipbuilder thyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) reported.

In the next step, the production of the submarines will be intensified on the basis of the developed design specifications. The first tests are scheduled to begin in 2027. Delivery of the first submarine to the Norwegian Navy is scheduled for 2029.

Ula-class submarine - Wikipedia

Ula-class submarine - Wikipedia

Future submarine capability[edit]

Main article: Type 212CD submarine

During 2006-2008 the Ula class was slated for modernisation. Most notably, new communication equipment (Link 11), new electronic warfare support measures and a periscope upgrade.[5] In May 2008, a contract for new sonars was signed, with the first submarine to have new sonar 21 months after that, and the last 52 months later.[3] Furthermore, Kongsberg was contracted in 2012 to upgrade the submarines' combat systems.[6] The 2020 long-term defence plan envisages the Ula class being kept in service until replaced by the new Type 212CD submarines in around 2030.[7]

In 2012 the Norwegian MoD set 2014 as a deadline for deciding whether to further extend the operative life of the Ula class after their slated end-of-life in 2020, or to replace them with a new fleet.[8] In December 2014, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence made the decision to begin the process of replacing the Ulas. As part of that decision, the Ula-class submarines would be kept in service for a further five years, but would not exceed 35 years total service as that would be too costly.[9] Given the delay in replacing the Ula-class, it was subsequently decided to further life-extend the Ula-class through the 2020s until a new class of submarines entered service.[10]

In 2016, two suppliers (DCNS and Thyssen Krupp) were shortlisted to provide competing options to replace the Ula-class boats. In February 2017, Thyssen Krupp was selected to provide four replacement submarines based on the Type 212-class for service entry in around 2030. A firm build contract had been anticipated in the first half of 2020.[11] However, as of the end of 2020, the contract had not yet been signed. In March 2021 it was indicated that an agreement had been reached between Norway and Germany to initiate the acquisition program, pending approval by the Bundestag. The contract was signed in July 2021 and construction of the first vessel began in September 2023.[12][13] Delivery of the first boat to the Royal Norwegian Navy is anticipated in 2029.[14]