Germany on Tuesday touted its leadership in the defense technology industry in its pitch to sell the cutting-edge U212 NFS submarines to the Philippine Navy.

Italy’s Fincantieri and German firm thyssenkrupp Marine Systems last month announced they would make a common bid to provide the country’s first submarines under the latter’s military modernization program.

In an ambush interview on the sidelines of a Stratbase ADRI Forum in Taguig City, German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke said the consortium, together with the German and Italian governments, is still working on the offer.

“Germany and Italy are working on this offer together with our respective governments— It is definitely, I think, one of the assets Germany can offer because, as it was said, Germany technologically is still a leader in defense industry,” he said.

“Together with Italy, I think we can contribute significantly to improving defense capabilities of the Philippine Navy,” he added.

The Fincantieri said the U212 NFS— virtually undetectable— is an evolution of the HDW Class U212A submarine, featuring low acoustic, magnetic, and visual signature characteristics and making it exceptionally stealthy.

Should Manila acquire the submarine, the Italian firm said the Philippine Navy would gain a “significant strategic advantage” through the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, first introduced on the U212A, and now integrated into the U212 NFS.

German Institute for International and Security Affairs-Asia Division Associate Christian Wirth said having German-made submarines would also “push collaboration” further, similar to the case of Singapore and Germany relations.

“If you look at Singapore-Germany relations, Singapore already bought six of these submarines and is going to buy two more,” he said in the same forum.

“You can really see that certainly in the defense military sphere, having this kind of commonality really pushes collaboration,” he added.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. in February said the government intends to buy at least two submarines as part of the AFP Re-Horizon 3 program.

Germany and the Philippines recently signed the Arrangement concerning Defense Cooperation, which Pfaffernoschke said would also boost cooperation on training and increase German ship visits to the country. (PNA)