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Key Points: Germany’s submarine force is undergoing a remarkable transformation following decades of setbacks. Sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Zeitenwende policy has infused €100 billion into the Bundeswehr for modernization.

-Among the highlights is a €4.7 billion deal for four advanced Type 212CD submarines featuring air-independent propulsion for extended stealth operations. Built in partnership with Norway, this cooperative acquisition enhances NATO interoperability and strengthens European defense ties.

-Although delivery of the first submarine is expected by 2032, these modern vessels will bolster Germany’s maritime capabilities, ensuring the Navy is prepared for emerging challenges in European and NATO security.

Germany’s Submarine Fleet Revival: Modernizing for NATO’s Future

Germany’s submarine force has undergone significant change since the end of the Cold War, undergoing a remarkable transformation over the past decade, shifting from deep setbacks and shortcomings to a fleet barreling toward modernization and expansion for the first time in decades.

In the early 2010s, the German Navy faced significant hurdles. Maintenance issues left all German subs inoperable at a time due to funding gaps and logistics challenges, primarily due to underinvestment and budget belt-tightening; however, that changed in early 2022.

The Zeitenwende, or turning point, marked a monumental shift in Germany’s defense and security policy approach. Sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that €100 billion would be available to the German Bundeswehr for modernization and investment to transform Germany’s armed forces into a military-ready force.

Although that injection of cash into the German forces is ongoing and yet to be fully realized, that decision reflected an understanding that the security situation in Europe had fundamentally changed — and, significantly, that Berlin needed to react.

New Boats

In December, Germany’s budget committee approved a €4.7 billion deal to acquire four advanced Type 212CD submarines. Built by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, these vessels feature air-independent propulsion, also known as AIP, which allows for extended underwater operations, quieter operation, and increased range. The purchase, made alongside Norway, may see the Norwegians also purchase additional submarines.

The deal was part of a larger €21 billion defense spending package approved by the parliament that also covered an F127 anti-air warfare frigate, rocket artillery, Patriot air defenses, and a raft of other items.

Though the purchase itself was notable, it was also emblematic of European defense project purchasing writ large: strategic partnerships and cooperative defense projects with other European countries to diffuse costs. By jointly purchasing new submarines and also applying them to other defense projects, both countries share technology transfer and important operational insights. Interoperability with other NATO allies is also strengthened.

A Norwegian Leopard 2A4 main battle tank during Iron Wolf II in Lithuania. It involves 2,300 troops from 12 NATO Allies. The Lithuanian-led exercise is helping to train the NATO Battlegroup which consists of soldiers from Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway. Shot in Rukla, Lithuania.

“As a new generation, the Type 212CD submarines go far beyond the current 212A boats. With advanced capabilities for situational awareness, enhanced networking with allied units and a reduced signature, the new submarines not only place increased demands on production due to their size, but also require state-of-the-art production lines for the outfitting with high-tech systems,” Thyssenkrupp said in a statement.

“Furthermore, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is ensuring synergies for the operation, logistics and international maintenance of the 212CD submarines, which was also underlined by the laying of the foundation stone for new service yard capacities in Norway. In this way, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is also helping to consolidate its partnership with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA), which has existed since 2017, and to expand its industrial partnerships in Norway and Germany.”

Changing Times

Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally changed Germany’s defense trajectory. The financial boost that the Bundeswehr now enjoys due to the Zeitenwende has infused both Euros and attention to fixing gaps in Germany’s defense capabilities and sets the stage for Germany to become one of the continent’s more important defense players.

In the future, the German Navy’s modern, upgraded submarine fleet will play an essential role in protecting NATO’s maritime interests, particularly in the Baltic. 

Type 212CD German Submarine

(June 5, 2019) A rigid-hull inflatable boat from the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) departs a German U-33 submarine during a passenger transfer exercise. Gravely is underway on a regularly-scheduled deployment as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 to conduct maritime operations and provide a continuous maritime capability for NATO in the northern Atlantic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Andrew Hays/Released)

The German Navy’s modernized submarine fleet will be crucial in protecting maritime interests and contributing to NATO’s collective security. The Zeitenwende has been more than a policy shift—it has been a call to action, ensuring that Germany’s submarine force is prepared to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex global security environment.

However, it will be some time before the new submarines see German crews aboard. Although construction on the first hull began last year, the first completed ship won’t be delivered until 2032.

About the Author: Caleb Larson 

Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.