In 2007 HDW presented a new submarine ,
Design is (obviously) based on the Type 210, which is better known as the Norwegian Ula class.
Several subcomponents will be identical to or derived from Type 212A/214 hardware, others (as with Type 210) will come from the proven Type 209 line.
Some characteristics that have been laid out so far:
* Dimensions: 56 m length, 1,000 tons submerged (slightly smaller than Type 210)
* Crew: 15 men crew in two-shift, 21 men in three-shift operation; additional bunkspace reserved
* Endurance: 30 days target
* Automation: only in areas where crew numbers can be reduced by it
* Construction: Single-hull, HY80 steel; small sail (as in 212A) for signature reduction
* Propulsion: Dieselelectric; 2x improved MTU 12V 396 diesel (from 209?); Permasyn "silent" electric engine (from 212A)
* Signature Reduction Features: X-Rudder configuration, Skew-Back propeller
* Armament: 8x 533mm torpedo tubes (14 torpedoes); missile launch or mine capability installable on customer demand
* Sail installations: optical periscope, telescoping communications mast, telescoping radar mast, two-man diver chamber (for SF insertion operations); additional space reserved
* Sonar: see attached picture 5 (sensors)
HDW, with Type 210mod, says is trying to tackle "budget" markets in particular in South America and South-East Asia to be able to directly compete with the current Russian export offensive in those areas, pricewise.
Additionally, HDW sees the Type 210mod as a good potential "entry submarine", for navies without submarines yet. A secondary market is to sell certain navies a new budget submarine instead of costly modernization of existing subs. And the third market is as a "low-end" supplement to navies with Type 214 or Type 209/1400 (or similar) subs, as HDW will market it with interoperability and straight compatibility (including crew training) to those classes.
HDW plans this sub as a direct competitor to Amur and SMX-23.
The Type 210mod apparently garnered a lot of interest at SUBCON 2007. TKMS/HDW is currently in the final design phases and expects to have the design ready for biddings in 2008.