The Viking Project has now reached the tendering phase. The Swedish, Norwegian and Danish navies - have recently submitted specifications that will form the basis of this tender. The Viking Submarine Corporation is a joint venture between Kockums AB of Sweden, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway and Odense Staalskibsvaerft A/S of Denmark. The company will now submit a tender for project planning, which will form the basis for decision regarding design and construction of ten submarines: four each for Denmark and Norway, and two for Sweden.

The submarines will be designed to operate under widely differing conditions, in terms of range, operational duration and deep-diving capability.
A document has been drafted outlining the joint specifications of participating countries, covering the special requirements of each country.

This is made possible by adopting a joint basic design that is sufficiently flexible to allow for modifications and add-on capabilities as required. This basic design specifies a submarine that combines completely air-independent propulsion with a substantial punch and extreme efficiency.

The Viking class submarines will offer significant advances in stealth capability and a dramatic improvement in the surveillance function, featuring advanced sonars. The Norwegian version, with a mission profile involving extended periods on the surface, covering considerable distances, will be fitted with a diesel as well as AIP propulsion system.