“Naval Group Secures Deal to Supply the Netherlands with Four Cutting-Edge Barracuda Submarines”

Today, Gijs Tuinman, the Dutch State Secretary for Defence, along with Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, have formalized the Delivery Agreement for the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability (RNSC) initiative. The event took place at the DMI (Directie Materiële Instandhouding) in Den Helder. This pivotal move signifies the commencement of the Orka-class initiative, following the agreement of the Industrial Cooperation Agreement (ICA) between Naval Group and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The signing of the Delivery Agreement initiates the project for the replacement of the Walrus-class submarines currently in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy, subsequent to a comprehensive assessment and bidding procedure executed by the Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT) on behalf of the Netherlands Ministry of Defense. Gijs Tuinman expressed: “With the signing of the delivery agreement, we officially affirm that the pathway to new submarines traverses France and the Netherlands. Through Naval Group, which brings vast expertise in submarine construction, and the Dutch maritime manufacturing sector, renowned for its specialized knowledge.” Pierre Eric Pommellet, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group, mentioned: “I am immensely delighted to be present today to formalize this contract for the provision of four expeditionary submarines for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Naval Group is privileged to be chosen by one of NATO’s most sophisticated submarine fleet operators, fulfilling rigorous operational and technical demands. This collaboration embodies the trust that the Netherlands Ministry of Defense places in our shared expertise and our dedication to meeting its requirements.”

Enhancing strategic capabilities As part of the Barracuda lineage of submarines, this initiative augments the operational capabilities of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Jan Willem Hartman, Commander of COMMIT commented: “A meticulous procurement process has designated the Orka-class by Naval Group as the superior substitute for the Walrus-class submarines.

The Orka, Zwaardvis, Barracuda, and Tijgerhaai will equip the Netherlands Submarine Service with a competitive edge in underwater warfare.”

The Orka-class initiative also aims to bolster the strategic autonomy of the Netherlands, further intensifying the existing partnership between the Netherlands Ministry of Defense, the Netherlands Defense Industrial Base (NL-DTIB), and Naval Group for the forthcoming decades.

Long-term dedication to strategic autonomy

A crucial element of the RNSC program is the requirement for strategic autonomy, which Naval Group supports through a bold industrial cooperation strategy solidified by the signing of the Industrial Cooperation Agreement (ICA) with the Ministry of Economic Affairs on 10th September 2024. Under this pact, Naval Group commits to collaborating with numerous key Dutch enterprises and research institutions over the next twenty years. This strategy encompasses Naval Group’s network of Dutch partners on pivotal systems and components, ensuring that the Netherlands ecosystem nurtures and retains expertise and engagement throughout the submarine lifecycle, centered around DMI.

For the Netherlands maritime sector, involvement in the submarine initiative and the knowledge and experience acquired will present an exceptional opportunity to further expand their collaboration with Naval Group. This will also furnish the requisite expertise to effectively and independently operate, maintain, and upgrade the submarines throughout their operational lifespan.

This industrial structure aligns seamlessly with the Netherlands MOD’s requirement to uphold autonomy during the operational periods of the submarines.