Press
Japan’s navy already has it: the revolutionary lithium-ion drive for submarines. Germany and Norway are following suit in a joint armament project.
Tokyo – In 2020, Japan became the first nation in the world to put a submarine powered by a lithium-ion battery into service. Revolutionary – and from the point of view of experts, there is no way for other countries to ignore the Japanese model. Germany and Norway are also relying on this type of propulsion in their joint armament project. The planned six Type 212 CD submarines of the German-Norwegian cooperation are primarily intended to secure NATO’s northern flank in the Atlantic – but can also be used in the relatively shallow waters of the Baltic Sea.
Japan’s “Phoenix Dragon” revolutionizes submarine propulsion
The Japanese submarine, named Oryu (in English: “Phoenix Dragon”), has lithium-ion cells instead of a lead-acid battery, as the trade journal German Maritime Competence Network (DMKN) reported. The Japanese marine had so much confidence “in the new technology that they completely dispensed with the four Stirling engines of Swedish origin,” it continued. These served as air-independent propulsion, or AIP for short, in the previous models.
According to experts, the new propulsion system has enormous tactical advantages. For example, the submarines can travel at maximum speed regardless of their load status, have a longer service life and require less maintenance. “Every other nation that operates and builds submarines will have to follow the Japanese example if it does not want to jeopardize its operational and defense industry future under water,” said the DMKN-Experts.
In the meantime, Japan has already commissioned its second submarine with the revolutionary propulsion system and started production of a second class with lithium-ion batteries (LIB), according to a report in the trade journal European Security & Technology (Esut) from Wednesday (22 May). The South Korean Navy has also upgraded and equipped the second batch of its KS-III class with LIB technology, which is to be delivered in 2027. Italy also wants to integrate LIB into the U-212NFS fleet with a planned delivery in 2028, according to Esut further.
Submarines in the Baltic Sea: Germany and Norway jointly order revolutionary 212CD boats
And how far is Germany with the development of the revolutionary propulsion method? In 2018, the German submarine builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems had already presented the prototype of a new lithium-ion battery system presentedIn 2021, the company received a joint contract from Germany and Norway to build six submarines of the Type 212CD and thus the “largest order in its history”, according to a Press release Two of the submarines will go to the German Navy and four to NATO-Partner Norway, all of which should have lithium-ion propulsion.
The battery faces particular challenges. “Bringing this battery on board a submarine is only possible if it does not start to burn in any situation,” Thyssenkrupp shares about the technology. Because there are situations in which the crew cannot leave the boat. However, the new drive has passed initial tests, so the risk is minimal. At the same time, the battery is extremely powerful and “could supply a small town for hours,” it continued. In view of the war in Ukraine, the deal with Germany is “unique and important for the defense of Europe,” said the Norwegian ambassador, Torgeir Larsen, in the podcast “Wirtschaft Welt & Weit” and emphasized the importance of the submarines for securing NATO’s northern flank.
Basically, the submarine must be able to be used effectively in a wide range of conditions – from the shallow Baltic Sea to the depths of the Atlantic, “from the archipelago to the open sea” – writes the German-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce on the armament projectAccording to Thyssenkrupp, construction of the first 212CD submarine began in 2023, delivery to Norway is expected in 2029, but for the German Navy only in 2032 and 2034. So it will still be some time before battery-powered submarines are actually operating in the Baltic Sea. (bme)
#batterypowered #submarine #service #planned #Baltic #Sea