Dec 29 2010
The second Class 209PN submarine called the NRP Arpão was supplied and commissioned on 22nd December, 2010 for the Portuguese navy, by Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft, a Kiel-based firm, of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
This advanced submarine has an air independent fuel cell propulsion unit and features the successful architecture principles of the Class 209 family in association with the advanced characteristics of Class 214. The state-of-the-art sensing devices and an in-built Command and Weapon regulating System aid its future exploration and investigation operations.
The agreement for the delivery of the second Class 209PN underwater systems was contracted with the Portuguese State in 2004. By the last quarter of 2005, the NRP ARPÃO’s production was initialized and it was named on 18th June 2009.
The NRP TRIDENTE, sister boat of NRP ARPÃO, was supplied on June 17th 2010, and has been in continuous use by the Portuguese Navy on its arrival in Lisbon.