Todaro-class Scire (S527) submarine arrives at Baval Submarine Base, New London for a port visit. Credit: via Naval Technology.

A brand new facility has opened in Piedmonte San Germano, in the Lazio region, on 16 July 2024, to house a production line for lithium batteries in support of the Italian Navy’s New Future Submarine (NFS) programme.

These lithium battery systems can also be used to equip the older U212A class and other underwater platforms based on Air Independent Propulsion (AIP).

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NFS is an advanced iteration that builds on the German-Italian U212A Todaro-class submarine that Fincantieri and ThyssenKrupp jointly built between 2004-2016 – four of these were delivered to Italy while Germany placed an order for six of them.

The new class is capable of remaining at sea for longer periods of time than Italy’s previous boats and, thanks to its ‘invisibility’, is capable of collecting information without altering the environment and the subject observed, operating even in the presence of high threats, thereby acting as a credible deterrent.

Lithium battery for NFS

Italy’s NFS fleet incorporates a new method of energy storage using a lithium battery system as opposed to the traditional lead-acid batteries used in the U212A submarine.

A lithium battery will ensure a longer submergence time than conventional diesel-electric boats, which must emerge to the surface every few days. However, U212As also use an AIP system that supplies electricity to the platform eliminating the need for diesel engine operation during silent slow cruising, which allows the submarine to operate underwater for extended periods.

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The new facility is managed by Power4Future, a Fincantieri subisidiary, a systems integrator of the electric propulsion and complex electro-mechanical systems with a mission to produce lithium-ion modules, packs and systems.

Pictured is a Power4Future facility for energy accumulation. Credit: Power4Future/Fincantieri.

The ceremony was attended by figures from the italian Government and industry leaders, including Piero Grillo, CEO at Fincantieri; Gianfranco Natali, president of Faist Holdings; Fabio Patti, Power4Future CEO and vice admiral Giuseppe Abbamonte, director for naval armament.

With a mandate from the Italian Navy, Europe’s defence programme overseer OCCAR – or the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation – announced today (28 June 2024) that it will exercise a €500m ($535m) option with Fincantieri for a fourth NFS boat