German Underwater Technology for Present and Future Capabilities of the Navy

Holger Hoffmann

The German Naval Institute held its 64th „Flamersheimer Talks“ at the Representation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein in Berlin. In the presence of several members of the German Parliament, the Bundestag, high-ranking representatives of the shipyards and supply industry, participants from the sectors of the Federal Ministries of Defence, Economic Affairs, and Finance, the diplomatic corps, and the media as well as other guests, the President of the German Naval Institute, Rear Admiral (GE N ret) Dr. Sigurd Hess, welcomed the three speakers and the presenter of the evening:

• Captain (GE N) Ernst-August Petsch, Branch Chief FMoD/Directorate General of Armaments (Rue VII 3)
  
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Juergen Ritterhoff, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG (HDW Shipyard)
  
• Dr. Hans-Peter Bartels, Member of the German Bundestag
  
• Hans-Peter Sommer, Chief Editor of „Wirtschaft, Politik, Medien (WPM)“
  

Stated below in a concise and abridged form are the most important parts of the presentations made by the three above-mentioned speakers of this symposium.
At the beginning of the meeting Captain (GE N) Petsch presented the basics from the point of view of the FMoD Armaments Division. Today and in the foreseeable future, the main emphasis in the tasks of the German armed forces is and will be placed on crisis management and crisis prevention at almost any place on earth. Under the heading „New Tasks - New Course“, the Minister has informed the Press on 2 October 2003 on his „Directive for the Further Development of the Bundeswehr“ and has thus again and even more profoundly intervened in the process. It contains plain statements and detailed, clearly addressed particular instructions. The Bundeswehr will be provided with a new personnel structure based on an overall strength of 250,000 soldiers - to be reached in 2010 -, a reviewed capability profile, and a new materiel and equipment planning. It must be possible to respond to technical and technological developments.
The Navy enters this process well prepared. The Chief of Staff, Navy, has given his Navy the agreement on the defined goals and objectives in July 2003, a paper which incorporates in advance some of the key points of the ministerial directive. The Assistant Chief of Staff in the Naval Staff (StAL Fü M III), Rear Admiral Schimpf, had presented visions on the future maritime capabilities of the Bundeswehr at the „Flamersheimer Talks“ in Bonn in April 2003 and brought them also within the reach of a larger target audience by way of respective publications. One of the slogans - which are internalized in the Navy today - was „from the escort navy to an expeditionary navy“.

The Roles of the Submarines

Main efforts of future potential operations will be in the „littorals“, that is the coastal waters in front of a possible theater of action. Nevertheless, the „blue water area“, the high seas, should not fall into oblivion. It seems therefore necessary to explain hereinafter the submarine aspects of the capability requirements.
Protect“, the classical escort role, which in the simply translated form of escort is not the first choice for the employment of conventional submarines. Especially the required transit speeds stood and still stand in the way from the very beginning. However, once stationed the boat of the 212A class with its long-range sensors and respective weapons offers a very high potential.
In the field of „transport“ the submarine cannot provide any contribution; but it had always a distinctive strength in the tasks „survive“ and „be ready“.

No longer the Grey Wolf in the Depth of the Sea

Changing from the blue/deep water into the area of action with highest priority, the peripheral waters and the waters of potential crisis states and/or areas, the significance of this area of action can already be determined by the multitude of the mentioned possible tasks, which should be dealt with in detail.
Pre-position“ should be mentioned here in the first place; it is a distinctive strength of the submarine. In this context, it should be pointed out that this, of course, holds true only under the condition of its undetected operating - certainly no wrong option.
In the field - „send a signal“ - capabilities are offered, keyword „network centric warfare“, which are also available today, but which need to be upgraded for the future without requiring particular efforts. Especially in combination with the terms „identify, survey and recce“ the submarine of the future must be attached particular significance. It is no longer the „gray wolf in the depth of the sea“, but the undetected, pre-positioned operating and communicating reconnaissance vehicle. For the capability area „ power projection “ there is a pronounced development, which results from the effective armament augmented by the IDAS (interactive defence for air attacked submarines) missile system and the Special Forces, which can be embarked, moved and introduced in an undetected way. In this context, the possibility of an employment of a torpedo in a special role deserves special mentioning. Within the scope of the development of the DM 2A4 torpedo it turned out that this guided underwater platform can be used at moderate speeds (by waiving some batteries) both as a forward sensor and effector carrier (example „Seefuchs“ / “sea fox”). Apart from that the following sentence applies: Where others want to and/or must employ a remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), there is a combat ready and reconnaissance-efficient submarine available.
The subjects „survive“ and „be ready“ should be seen in parallel with the blue water area of action previously dealt with. The capability in respect to „command“ is not very much developed. As to the „land on“ type of operation, the submarine is primarily not suitable, but it is in preparatory, escorting, and follow-up actions, however. The subject „strike“ - is presently not possible to be attended to following a very long time of political restraint, but - if politically wanted - it is realizable at any time. In „support“ conventional submarines can, by employment of Special Forces, greatly contribute to evacuation operations (one of the potentially important operations of the future).
At this point it should not be ignored that the field of countermining which has not been mentioned so far and which, along with the submarine, represents the other important component of the German underwater technology becomes very clearly noticeable in this area of action. The development contract for the MU 2000 system is a distinct signal here.
Of course, the area of action not dealt with so far, that is the area in front of the own coastline, should not be skipped. For this area the following applies: What can be accomplished in far-away coastal waters can also be done at home. After all, this area of action is still the primary exercise area. All in all, the submarine represents even in the changed security environment not only a useful, but also an indispensable maritime component in joint and networked crisis prevention and (if necessary) crisis management.

After these statements justifying the use and efficiency of submarines, the speaker of the shipyard industry followed with a presentation of system components, which have already been developed, or which are shortly before the stage of development and which are to improve the operational capabilities of submarines under the changed security parameters.

In this context, Prof. Dr. Ritterhoff (HDW) also referred to future approaches in respect to export submarines by starting out from the U 212A submarine.
The German submarine construction is internationally top ranking in the field of non-nuclear propelled submarines. The Federal Ministry of Defence/Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement have last but not least, achieved this thanks to the considerable efforts in continuing the further development of the overall system in cooperation with the German shipyards and its supply industry.
The 212A Class of the German and Italian navies stands almost symbolic of the superiority of German submarine technology. The first sub - U 31 - is presently undergoing sea trials. The boats of the 212 A Class have - what is unique in the world - a fuel cell propulsion which was developed by the HDW and Siemens companies and which will revolutionize the non-nuclear submarine employment. Already today the 212 A Class is well prepared for the modern challenges. Littoral warfare - now also „expeditionary“ far away from home - is its task; to operate „combined“ is nothing new for German subs, and the capability of real „jointness“ can be made available to them through an improved „network centric warfare“ (NCW) connector.
In principle, the 2nd batch of the 212 Class submarines - planned for the German and Italian navies as of 2007/2008 - will be identical with the 1st batch, but can already today resort - without taking risks within the meaning of CPM - to diverse developments which are ready for series production. Developed for series production and ready for use are, for example:

• Advanced antenna concepts for the purpose of externally networked communication with the Callisto system,
  
• High-performance diesel generating sets with excessive transit charging capacity,
  
• Cheaper and easier 120 KW fuel cell modules for an overall power output of 240 KW,
  
• Improved LOX and more effective Me-hydride storage variants in pressure hull and keel, respectively.
  

Coordinated between public purchaser/acquiring agency and the German industry, submarine technology development programs have promoted tangible progress up to production stage on system and component level as well. Thus, the following future-capable technologies for both the 2nd batch of the 212 Class and for export submarines of the ferritic 214 sister class are already available today:

• „Connector“ for network centric warfare (NCW) with improved, i.e. unrestricted external communication capability within the meaning of NCW Callisto,
  
• Upgraded expeditionary abilities through increased transit speeds and ranges with a low indiscretion rate (snorkel rate),
  
• Enhanced suitability for the employment of Special Forces with diver/frogmen accommodation and access/exit airlock hatch.
  

Future Approaches

A changed operation spectrum with challenges „other than war“ such as crisis management and crisis prevention increasingly require the mission spectrum of modern submarines. New R&T efforts in submarine construction take this development into account. In this context, the following should be mentioned as examples:

• Flexible, escalation-capable and modular mission-adapted armament,
  
• Accommodation of special forces,
  
• Extended external communication and data processing which also allows the submerged submarine to be unrestrictedly responsive and to actively participate in the exchange of information in real time (full NCW ability).

Moreover, the basic design of the 2nd batch of the 212 Class just as that of the 214 Class - of which seven boats are presently under construction for two foreign navies - is so flexible and modular that even future challenges and threats can be met with respect to their design. Stated below are selected technical approaches to future operational challenges, which would also be usable for submarines of the German Navy.

Communications Buoy System - Project „Callisto“

The modern communications technology allows to reach all ground, air and naval forces all over the world and to exchange data with them better than ever before. The use and networking of all available communication means in military operations is designated „Network Centric Warfare (NCW)”. To-date, submarines have been traveling through the oceans as „gray wolfs“. Their separation from permanent communications was desired up to a certain degree. Today, it is required that the submarine can be contacted at any time for the purpose of data exchange and conduct of operations. Physics does not allow electromagnetic waves to penetrate into great water depths. For that reason, submarines have to expose themselves on the ocean surface today in order to make their transceiver system operational.

Supported by the Federal Government, the HDW and Gabler companies are working on a buoy system, which allows the submarine to remain submerged during the transmitting/receiving period. The project is named „Callisto“ and addresses several functions:

• During snorkeling operation it is fixed on top of a periscope and communications mast and serves as an ordinary communications sensor,
  
• During submerged operation, the buoy rises to the surface, transmits and/or receives data and transmits them - via a cable - to the deeply dived submarine.
  

IDAS Missile System for Submarines

The “Interactive Defence for Air Attacked Submarines (IDAS)” is being developed by the HDW, BGT, and Kongsberg companies and co-financed by the public purchaser/acquiring agency. The project has now entered the final phase of an experimental study. The test phase will be run in cooperation with the Bundeswehr Technical Center for Ships and Naval Weapons.
In the opinion of the German Navy and of the navies of our export customers, it is imperative that in the light of changed operational scenarios of the naval forces the submarines’ weapon employment spectrum be extended „further downwards“. Weapon employment of submarines must become more escalation-capable. Torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles have only little future as sole submarine weapons. It is therefore necessary to use highly precise guided missiles with relatively small warheads. Here, the advantage of the submarine is that it can employ these weapons in undetected and surprising actions in littoral waters. Collateral damages can more or less be avoided.
In Germany, the IDAS missile system is being developed for this purpose. IDAS consists of a light missile of the BGT Company on the basis of IRIS-T (a newly developed guided missile with state-of-the art technology), which is equipped with an infrared camera and stays in contact with the submerged submarine via optical wave-guides throughout its flying time. Here, the advantage is that the missile transmits images to the weapons control panel of the submarine. This permits to select the target and to correct the actual point of impact while the missile is still in flight. IDAS is a highly accurate weapon system, which can be employed independently of link stations (e.g. satellites or AWACS aircraft). IDAS will greatly expand the capabilities of submarines by allowing them to combat air, naval and ground targets with the respectively desired effects.

Gun-type Weapons on Submarines - Project „MORAINE“

Within the scope of the new security challenges the naval forces, too, have to perform to an increasing degree quasi-police tasks. Torpedoes and heavy missile are unsuited weapons for that kind of action. Especially the submarine, which due to its invisibility is particularly well suited for clandestine operations in coastal waters, requires a „downward“ expansion of its escalation-capable weapon employment spectrum. It should therefore be possible to cover the spectrum from missiles and torpedoes down to the employment of an automatic gun.
Today, submarines have no suitable close-range weapons. Already after the Second World War, there seemed to be no use any more for gun-type weapons. Meanwhile, this has obviously changed again in times where the navies take on diverse new tasks. With the missions required today, submarines can effectively bring to bear their capability of surfacing unexpectedly. Covert actions by special units which will not only be carried out by frogman and underwater demolition teams, but also by other specialized task units, will increase to a considerable extent. It may also become necessary for submarines to provide covering fire in the fight against the globally increasing piracy, which can adequately be realized only by means of gun-type weapons. The gun will be bedded in a pressure-resistant bearing in the submarine’s tower and hydraulically raised. It will be remotely controlled from inside the sub. The submarine will remain submerged during this process. Together with the Gabler Company in Luebeck and the Mauser Company in Oberndorf, the HDW shipyard has developed a concept for a gun system. The recoilless gun (RMK 30) will be expanded from the submarine’s tower by means of a hoistable device and can be employed by remote control from the boat, which travels at periscope depth.

Mission-Modular Submarine Project „HYDRA“

The diverse tasks, which the submarine has to take on today, can no longer be fulfilled with a single submarine design. It is rather necessary to have a basic design that is possible to be changed by modular concepts. Modules can consist of whole sections, but also of exchangeable segments. One example of a section module is the fuel cell module developed by HDW, which has already been sold in export business. The „fuel cell (FC)“ module is a submarine section which is equipped with a complete fuel cell system and which can be installed in the pressure hull of an existing submarine.
Under the project name „HYDRA“, HDW shipyard and Gabler Maschinenbau Company are developing a section for mission-oriented modular zones, which will be installed in the area of the tower. HYDRA comprises - depending on operational standards – exchangeable units like:

• Additional hoistable devices (e.g. for the Callisto communications system or the MORAINE automatic gun),
  
• Additional space for consoles/panels (e.g. for communications or the SUBLAB environmental analysis system),
  
• A large airlock hatch.
  

With this concept HYDRA will strengthen all those capabilities of a submarine, which are of particular significance considering the expanded task spectrum.

Fuel Cell (FC) System with Methanol Reformer

In order to meet the requirements for increased submerged travel times with greater ranges at higher speeds in AIP fuel cell operation (to decrease detectability) it is possible to install a large number of 120 KW fuel cell modules which will be supplied with on board generated hydrogen by one or several methanol reformers. Already developed is the design-type integration of a 480 KW propulsion module, which can be retrofitted in modular zones provided for in future submarines. The system components - developed by HDW and Haldo Topsoe/DK - were set up as a prototype in Kiel in 2002 and were successfully tested in acceptance trials by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Against the background of growing requirements in respect to reconnaissance and control/surveillance of sea areas, the employment of so-called AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) is deemed necessary by all navies. Submarines are considered to be suitable carrier platforms for them as well. AUV can, for instance, be launched and employed in mine-infested coastal areas. This avoids any endangering of the submarine and the crew.

AUV expand the capabilities of the naval forces in many ways and can thus also support the submarine mission. The AUV can, for example, carry out the following tasks:

• Direct port and coastal reconnaissance,
  
• Mine countermeasures,
  
• Takeover of transport tasks for special units/frogmen/underwater demolition teams who disembarked from the submarine.
  

Both HDW and the Atlas Elektronik Company are jointly developing a concept for the integration of an AUV in submarines.

Qualified for the Future

German fuel cells AIP submarines are qualified for the future even in the light of new operational challenges. Their covert employment in crisis and crisis prevention will increase in significance. Aside from national defence, their modularity makes them also flexibly operational all over the world in modern scenarios, be it in a reconnaissance role, in the support of special operations or other covert actions.

In addition to arguments for the preservation of a powerful submarine weapon that were based on security and politico-military considerations, the question of political feasibility was also to be addressed. Dr. Hans-Peter Bartels, Member of the German Bundestag, consented to give an answer to this. Following a brief outline of the developments in world politics from the Cold War to the present situation including the dramatically changed parametric conditions he stated his view on the issue of the requirements to be derived from that in regard to the armament of the Bundeswehr.

14 years after the end of the East-West confrontation and a little more than two years after the attacks in New York and Washington, most of the Bundeswehr’s gear and major equipment is still dating from the era of the Cold War despite the already ongoing reversal process. lthough the Leopard battle tank is solid and well-proven equipment, a high number of battle tanks are no longer necessary for the tasks of the Bundeswehr. Consequently, the number of tanks will continue to decrease drastically.
Our problems are not only related to the equipment already commissioned. Armament projects, which entered the planning or decision phase in the 1990s, are also partly still based on a meanwhile unrealistic threat situation. The fighter aircraft called „Jaeger 90“ at that time is a very expensive example. The considerations regarding that aircraft began when Leonid Breshnev was still governing in the Kremlin. How the world has changed since then is also demonstrated by the fact that the Eurofighter is now being commissioned in a Bundeswehr, which has, soldiers stationed in Termez, in the middle of the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan. What for a development in just two decades!
The reversal of such armament projects, the adaptation of the planning to the new requirements has been and still is a lengthy process; it is not an easy one and, unfortunately, it often involves an increase of costs. At the moment, this becomes obvious with the Eurofighter.
In the meantime, the first projects, which are fully geared to the new mission profile of the Bundeswehr, have gotten off the ground. The contracts for the A 400M transport aircraft are finally settled. With the task force supply vessels the Navy has got a new type of ship, which is very well suited to the new challenges and tasks.
Not only the Bundeswehr, but also the entire Bundeswehr garrison „Germany“ is undergoing a change. A few numbers prove impressively how dramatically the security situation in the heart of Europe has changed: The Federal Government had initiated a comprehensive reform of the Bundeswehr with Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping in office. The Cabinet decision of June 2000 and the „Concept for the Base Locations“ initiated the change of the Bundeswehr from an Army which served primarily the national and alliance defence in Continental Europe to armed forces which are primarily employed in crisis prevention and crisis reaction missions often far outside of the own borders.

Further Development of the Reform

The 11th of September has brutally changed the security situation once again. In order to better prepare the Bundeswehr for the new security environment and international requirements in consequence of that, Defence Minister Peter Struck has pushed forward the reform of the Bundeswehr. In May, he has issued new „Defence Policy Guidelines (DPG)“ and has also made first decisions on a premature decommissioning of materiel. With the deactivation of the 2nd (GE) Naval Air Wing and the decommissioning of ten fast patrol boats at the end of 2005 already, the Navy contributes very substantially to this.
In his new guidelines, the Minister’s justified assumptions are that the classical case of national defence, the defence against a massive surprise attack of a conventional army, is not going to happen within the foreseeable future. The more likely tasks of the Bundeswehr for the foreseeable future will be international conflict prevention and crisis management as well as the fight against terror. The reform of the Bundeswehr has not been made easier by the fact that it is impossible to ideal-typically prepare it merely academically and then to implement it very calmly by taking time about it, but that it has to be reversed „at full speed“. The priority tasks described by the Minister are not only scenarios of future missions of the Bundeswehr, but are present-day tasks already. The reorganization of the Bundeswehr is taking place while about 8,000 soldiers are performing their difficult service abroad.
It is therefore correct that the DPG place the main emphasis of the Bundeswehr even more consistently in those fields, which are decisive for the successful accomplishment of missions abroad. As main activities I should like to state six essentially interconnected capability categories:

• Command and control capability,
  
• Intelligence,
  
• Mobility,
  
• Effectiveness in operations,
  
• Support and sustainability,
  
• Survivability and protection.

For the concrete procurement and equipment planning this results in priorities placed on partial capabilities which hitherto didn’t exist at all or existed to some extent only: strategic deployment, global intelligence/reconnaissance, and efficient and interoperable systems and means of command and control.

Navy is of Overriding Importance

In this new Bundeswehr the Navy has to play an important role and with its specific capabilities it is already well prepared for many of the new tasks. The qualities, which make the Navy capable to act in the new scenarios, are well known and are well suited to the new profile. The unrestricted and worldwide mobility including the possibility of transporting materiel and forces to remote regions without having to request in negotiations diplomatic authorization for overflight and transit rights are mentioned as examples here. Moreover, the naval forces can make an effective contribution for the protection of troops employed ashore. Also, they can cover and secure missions by providing evacuation capacities.
But some elements of the Navy will have to deal with the necessity to adapt them even more to the new profile. The keywords are familiar and concern among other things the fields of reconnaissance and command and control capabilities. With the task force supply vessels, the new 124 Class frigates, the 130 Class corvette and, of course, the new 212 Class submarines the Navy will receive ships which fit excellently into the new capability profile.
It will be inevitable to focus on new activities and efforts since it is mandatory to adapt to the requirements of a new era with the limited resources of the Bundeswehr. It is essential to gain some leeway for the really necessary military investments. Veiled behind the bare term of a review of procurement projects are substantial conflicts. But in view of the extremely difficult budgetary situation there exists no other possibility. In the course of the progressing development of the reform of the Bundeswehr all procurement projects will be examined under the microscope. Furthermore, it will be important to clarify which arms industry and which know-how will be of prominent national interest.
In the past one and a half decades, the German arms industry has made profound and partly bitter, but also future-oriented changes. The number of the employees alone decreased from 280,000 to just fewer than 100,000 personnel. For the equipment of the Bundeswehr, the German arms industry is of vital importance. It is also clear, however, that the demand of the Bundeswehr is not enough for a full utilization of the industrial capacity.

Times of Scarcest Financial Resources

In times of scarcest financial means it must be attempted to sustain technological core competence on national level through specific research and development assignments. This is indeed possible with a manageable amount of funds. And this should be done. As an efficient and competitive defence technology is also of European interest, this problem relating to security and financial policy should be jointly addressed wherever possible. All European countries are faced with the problem that the financial resources are limited.

Capacities Have to be Provided

In building up common European capabilities in defence technology only those countries will play an important role, which are in a position to contribute respective capacities. It is also for that reason that the German interest in respect to security and industrial policy is to keep something which can be introduced as a valuable investment. Worthy of mention in this context is the intended amendment of the foreign trade law, which would subject the sales of German armament companies to foreign investors to the authorization of the Federal Government. It is a clear acknowledgment of state and politics in regard to their special responsibility for the defence technology industry.
In part, the German naval shipyards have arrived at the lower end of the subsistence level today already. In this situation they need perspectives above all other things. Only if they have planning safety as to which national and European requirements are given they can prepare and gear themselves to the demand from entrepreneurial aspects. It is thus of great significance that we Germans should not easily abandon our position in especially those fields where we are leaders on the world market. This goes for naval construction in general which enjoys an excellent reputation. But it applies to the construction of submarines all the more so as the reputation is even more excellent. And it is almost exclusively German know-how, which justifies the strong market position: The German share in constructing its submarines amounts up to 97 percent. And the German share on the world market of 70 percent is proof for the competitiveness, for the technological edge of the subs, which are constructed at German shipyards by the HDW and TNSW companies.
The 124 Class frigate and the 212 Class submarines are under construction; the 130 Class corvette project is under way. But larger follow-on projects are in abeyance at best. When taking the current planning of the Ministry as a basis, the share of naval projects in the investment expenditure of the “Defence Plan 14” will clearly shrink within the foreseeable future. Whereas the naval share has leveled off in the range between 20 and 25 percent in the past years, it could drop to just only 10 percent by 2008. But if follow-on orders are lacking there is a risk that know-how at the shipyards will get lost permanently.
With a view to the pending decisions on the future equipment of the Bundeswehr it is therefore correct to draw the attention to the important naval projects, which have so far not yet been decided. To be mentioned here is the replacement for the frigates of the 122 Class and the 2nd batch of the fuel cell submarines. And beyond the subject of shipbuilding, the topic of the follow-on model for the Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) should also be put on the agenda.
The requirement of the Navy for a second batch of 212 Class submarines is well founded. By no means were the submarines only suited for the conflict situations of the Cold War. They will also play an important role in the new security environment. The 2nd batch would offer the opportunity to gear the subs even much better to the new tasks.

Holger Hoffmann, Commander (ret.) and Deputy Editor in Chief of „Marine Forum“

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