First of Class 209PN Submarine for the Portuguese Navy launched in Kiel
On 15th July 2008, the first of two Class 209PN submarines for the Portuguese Navy was launched at Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel. The submarine was named N.R.P. TRIDENTE by Dr. Alda Taborda, wife of the President of the Portuguese Parliament Dr. Jaima Gama.
The new submarine has a combined diesel-electric and fuel cell propulsion system. Equipped with ultra-modern sensors and an integrated Command and Weapon Control System, it is optimally suited to its future reconnaissance and surveillance tasks.
The contract for the two submarines was signed in 2004 between the Portuguese State and the German Submarine Consortium (GSC). In the 2nd half of 2005, Empresa de Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Electrónica, S.A. (EID) and the German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) signed a contract for Integrated Communications Systems (ICS) for two submarines and an option for a third unit.
The submarine has an overall length of approx. 68 m; Height of approx. 13 m; Displacement of approx. 1,850 t and a crew complement of 32.