The Netherlands has officially contracted the French defense company Naval Group to start constructing four new Orka-class submarines to replace its aging Walrus-class submarines.
Dutch Command Materiel and IT Commander Jan Willem Hartman said that the Orka-class was chosen as the best replacement via a thorough procurement process.
Based on Naval Group’s Barracuda design, the planned subs will be the HNLMS Orka (Orca), HNLMS Zwaardvis (Swordfish), HNLMS Barracuda, and HNLMS Tijgerhaai (Tiger Shark).
The first two submarines are expected to be delivered by 2034.
The deal was signed as part of the Delivery Agreement for the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability (RNSC) program on Monday between Dutch State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman and Naval Group CEO Pierre Eric Pommellet.
Tuinman said, “With the signature of the delivery agreement, we officially confirm that the road to new submarines runs through France and the Netherlands. Through Naval Group, which has extensive experience in building submarines, but also through the Dutch maritime manufacturing industry, which has unique and specialized knowledge.”
Long-Term Partnership
The RNSC program also includes a strategic autonomy requirement, emphasizing collaboration between the Netherlands Ministry of Defense, the Netherlands Defense Industrial Base, and Naval Group to ensure that the country retains control over its submarine capabilities.
In support of this, the French firm signed an Industrial Cooperation Agreement with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs on September 10.
The agreement outlines the naval company to cooperate with Dutch partners and knowledge institutes for the local development of key systems and components over a period of twenty years.