“Naval Group Lands Major Contract for Advanced Barracuda Submarines in the Netherlands”

Today, Gijs Tuinman, the Dutch State Secretary for Defense, alongside Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, have formalized the Delivery Agreement for the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability (RNSC) initiative. This significant occasion occurred at the DMI (Directie Materiële Instandhouding) in Den Helder. This crucial step marks the launch of the Orka-class initiative, following the establishment of the Industrial Cooperation Agreement (ICA) between Naval Group and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The endorsement of the Delivery Agreement sets in motion the project aimed at replacing the Walrus-class submarines currently operational with the Royal Netherlands Navy. This follows a thorough evaluation and tendering process conducted by the Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT) on behalf of the Netherlands Ministry of Defense. Gijs Tuinman stated: “With the endorsement of the delivery agreement, we officially recognize that the path to new submarines is through France and the Netherlands. Through Naval Group, which possesses extensive expertise in submarine fabrication, and the Dutch maritime manufacturing industry, celebrated for its specialized skills.” Pierre Eric Pommellet, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group, expressed: “I am extremely pleased to be here today to formalize this agreement for delivering four expeditionary submarines for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Naval Group is honored to be selected by one of NATO’s most advanced submarine fleet operators, meeting stringent operational and technical criteria. This partnership embodies the confidence that the Netherlands Ministry of Defense places in our collective expertise and our pledge to fulfill its needs.”

Boosting Strategic Capabilities As part of the Barracuda lineage of submarines, this initiative enhances the operational capabilities of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Jan Willem Hartman, Commander of COMMIT remarked: “A detailed procurement process has identified the Orka-class by Naval Group as the optimal replacement for the Walrus-class submarines.

The Orka, Zwaardvis, Barracuda, and Tijgerhaai will equip the Netherlands Submarine Service with a tactical advantage in underwater combat.

The Orka-class initiative also seeks to strengthen the strategic independence of the Netherlands, further enhancing the current collaboration between the Netherlands Ministry of Defense, the Netherlands Defense Industrial Base (NL-DTIB), and Naval Group for the upcoming decades.

Long-term Commitment to Strategic Independence

A vital component of the RNSC program is the need for strategic independence, which Naval Group addresses through a proactive industrial collaboration strategy cemented by the signing of the Industrial Cooperation Agreement (ICA) with the Ministry of Economic Affairs on September 10, 2024. Under this agreement, Naval Group pledges to partner with several key Dutch enterprises and research organizations over the next twenty years. This initiative encompasses Naval Group’s network of Dutch allies on essential systems and components, ensuring that the Netherlands ecosystem fosters and retains expertise and involvement throughout the submarine lifecycle, centered around DMI.

For the Netherlands maritime sector, engagement in the submarine initiative and the insights gained will provide a remarkable opportunity to further amplify their collaboration with Naval Group. This will also equip them with the essential expertise to independently operate, maintain, and upgrade the submarines across their operational duration.

This industrial framework aligns perfectly with the Netherlands MOD’s requirement to maintain autonomy during the operational phases of the submarines.