Documents
Germany ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems
Type 212A
A German attack submarine notable for its non-magnetic hull and fuel-cell air-independent propulsion, allowing it to remain submerged for weeks with very low acoustic and magnetic signatures. Operated jointly by Germany and Italy, it is widely regarded as one of the quietest conventional submarine classes in service.
In service since 2005 · 2 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗
250
m depth
20
kn
8,000
nmi
1,450
t
27
crew
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
German export-licensed
BAFA licensing with strict end-use review; approvals can be politically constrained.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Limited · 2 operators
In service since 2005. Status: active · ~10 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Competitive field
32 comparable systems from 17 other manufacturers
Counted in the WeaponSpecs database: submarines built by another manufacturer. A count of what this catalog holds, not a survey of the whole market. See the alternatives →
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Type 212A can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Torpedo tubes Number of torpedo tubes (submarines and some surface ships). | 6 |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 57.2 m |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 10 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 2 |
Specifications compiled from public ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) Walrus class 
Naval Group Suffren class 
BAE Systems Astute class Head-to-head comparisons
Type 212A vs
Kilo-class (Project 636.3) 
Gotland-class 
Reis-class 
S-80 Plus Frequently asked questions
How many countries operate the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Type 212A? +
The ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Type 212A is operated by 2 countries.
Similar systems
Related coverage
Type 212A in the news
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Germany, Norway, Canada Begin Joint Planning for 212CD Submarines
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Article guide · Jul 24, 2026
Five Nuclear Subs Publish the Exact Same 25 Knots
Nuclear boats average 26.5 knots submerged, conventional boats 20.2, but the published number understates the real divide. Here is what submerged speed hides.
Article guide · Jul 13, 2026
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