At
Euronaval 2012, German Shipbuilder TKMS released information about a
proposed conventional propulsion long-range submarine project, called
Type-216. Based on the Type 214, the Type 216 is designed specifically
to meet the "larger conventional submarine" needs of countries
like Australia, India and Canada.
Double
hull design.
Type 216 is equipped with an air independent propulsion system, giving
it the same kind of ability as a nuclear submarine: Staying underwater
for weeks to reach crisis area, such as the Strait of Malacca. Like an
SSN It would have the ability to launch cruise missiles, to deploy special
forces with their underwater delivery vehicle and even unmanned underwater
vehicles. The class is designed to be extremely quiet due to its propulsion
system and through the use of sound absorbing coating on the hull.
Missions
»
Anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare
» ISTAR (Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance)
» Land attack capability
» Special Forces operations
» Deployment of unmanned vehicles
» Mine operations and mine reconnaissance
Features
»
High crew comfort standard due to enlarged accommodation, recreation area
and utility rooms
» Sewage and waste treatment to fufil future environmental regulations
» Stealth characteristics:
__- AIP system for submerged condition lasting
for weeks (fuel cell and methanol reformer)
__- Degaussing system
__- Highest acoustic requirements for silent
operations
__- Target strength optimised shaping and
coating
» Combat information centre with seven multifunctional control consoles
» Sail with nine hoistable masts
» Sensor layout for best performance (acoustic, optic, electronic
support measures, communication & nav.)
» Future-oriented flexible payload systems:
__- Up to three vertical multi-purpose locks
with various modules (e.g. seven missile modules)
__- Various modules for mission-based equipment
inside casing
__- Multi-purpose room for intra-mission
flexibility and inter-mission modularity
__- Modular multi-purpose mast
Weapons
6x
533 mm torpedo tubes (to deploy torpedoes, anti-ship missiles or
mines)
Flexible storage
area for 18 reserve weapons
Weapon module
for vertical multi-purpose lock (2.5 m diameter to deploy cruise missiles
or UUV)
Swimmer Delivery
Vehicle (SDV) to deploy special forces
Sensors,
Electronics and Decoys
N/A
Propulsion
Diesel / Electric. Air independent propulsion system.
