On 7 October 2025, the development of the Propulsion Battery for the OCCAR U212 Near Future Submarine (NFS) Programme, based on lithium technology, achieved a major milestone with the successful closure of the Lithium Battery System (LBS) Critical Design Review (CDR).
This event represents a decisive step forward in the development of a next-generation energy solution for maritime applications, designed to meet the most demanding operational requirements, particularly those of underwater platforms.
Entirely conceived, designed, and developed by Italian industry, the LBS will be manufactured in Italy within one of Europe’s largest giga factories, purpose-built to support this strategic capability. This milestone further reinforces Italy’s leadership in advanced defence technologies and its commitment to sustainable and innovative energy solutions.
The CDR confirmed the system’s design maturity and compliance with all mission requirements, paving the way for the next programme phases — manufacturing, integration, and qualification.
The Near Future Submarine will be the first Western submarine specifically designed and fitted with a lithium battery system, representing a significant technological leap in submarine energy systems.
Safety remains paramount for the LBS of a submarine. The CDR marks the culmination of a rigorous development process that began with the selection of the safest and most reliable lithium chemistry, followed by extensive testing and certification activities to ensure full compliance with the stringent safety standards applicable to underwater operations.
The assessment results were formally endorsed by representatives of the Naval Armament Directorate, the Italian Navy General Staff, Fincantieri, and OCCAR, confirming full alignment among all stakeholders and paving the way for the subsequent steps in this strategic defence cooperation programme.
Through the NFS Programme, OCCAR ensures the effective coordination among institutional, industrial, and governmental actors, providing transparent and efficient programme management in line with its mission to foster European defence cooperation and capability development.
This milestone also underlines the remarkable work of the Italian shipyard and submarine builder Fincantieri, whose technical expertise and industrial capacity are key enablers in delivering this advanced capability to the Italian Navy and to Europe’s broader maritime defence landscape.
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