Norway seeks collaborative development for new submarine

OSLO, Norway, March 8 (UPI) -- Norway is seeking to collaborate with other countries to develop and build a new submarine, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense said.

The partnering would reduce Norway's development costs for the vessel, which will replace the country's Ula-class submarines.

"The Ministry of Defense is currently leading the work looking at procurement of new submarines, the ministry said. "The project is in its definition phase. This phase will be completed in the first half of 2016, when the external quality review is completed."

No supplier for new submarine although discussions are being held with a number of shipyards.

The Ministry of Defense said discussions with several nations are also being held. Norway and Germany already have collaborated on submarines in the past, so "Germany is therefore a nation which it is natural for Norway to discuss a potential future submarine cooperation with."

In addition to operational and purely defense-related matters, industry will play an important part in a future submarine cooperation.

Additional information of talks with other countries were not disclosed.