KONGSBERG to Upgrade Norway’s Ula-Class Submarines

Kongsberg has signed an agreement with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency to extend the operational life of Norway's Ula-class submarines.

The contract, valued at approximately NOK 436 million (about $41 million), includes upgrades to the software and hardware of the Ula-class submarines' combat systems.

According to an official release from Kongsberg, these upgrades will extend the operational life of the Ula-class submarines until the introduction of the new 212CD submarines, expected to be delivered in the 2030s. In addition to the upgrades, Kongsberg is also responsible for supplying the combat system for the upcoming 212CD submarines, which will serve both Norway and Germany.

The Type 212CD submarine features a propulsion system combining air-independent propulsion (AIP) and hydrogen fuel cell technologies, enabling weeks of submerged operation, stated by Rear Admiral Oliver Berdal.

Its design includes improved acoustic stealth, a new hull shape, better sound absorption, and reduced noise levels, making it difficult for adversaries to detect.

Norway currently operates six Type 210 Ula-class submarines, with two set for decommissioning. Kongsberg's upgrades will keep the remaining Ula-class submarines operational until the T212CDs arrive, with production of the first T212CD starting at the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany, in September 2023, and delivery expected in 2029.