Kongsberg to deliver combat system for Germany's, Norway's Type 212CD submarines

Illustrative image of a fully integrated combat information centre provided by kta Naval Systems. (kta Naval Systems)

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace signed a NOK3.5 billion (USD345.92 million) contract for the delivery of its ORCCA combat system elements to four German and two Norwegian Type 212CD (Common Design) submarines, according to Kongsberg's press releases on 17 December.

The contract follows the announcement by the Norwegian government on 5 December that it is looking to order two more Type 212CD submarines from TKMS on top of the four that have already been ordered, bringing the total to six. The government is also proposing an increase of the cost framework by NOK46 billion, according to a December press release from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD). The additional order will need to be approved by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting).

A total of 12 Type 212CD submarines, which will be “equipped with the industry's most advanced combat system”, will be operated together by Germany and Norway, according to the Kongsberg press release.

The ORCCA integrated command, sensor, and weapon control suite is being provided by kta Naval Systems (a consortium of TKMS, its Naval Electronic Systems business unit Atlas Elektronik, and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace). The system is described by kta Naval Systems as “one combat system from sensor to shooter”. As previously reported by Janes, it has interoperable/interchangeable multifunction consoles, efficient and user-orientated data presentation, open architecture to simplify the integration of third-party systems, and the adoption of a scalable data centre concept.

According to kta Naval Systems, ORCCA includes optronic and/or periscope systems; radar and communications; ESM (electronic support measures); a navigation radar; a sonar; a link system supporting NATO and non-NATO tactical datalinks; and a navigation system.