Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems Celebrates a Significant Leap Forward in Surface Vessel Development
The Brazilian Navy, together with the procurement organization EMGEPRON and Águas Azuis—a venture established by thyssenkrupp, Embraer Defence & Security, and Atech—commemorated the keel laying of the nation’s most advanced frigate. This significant event took place on June 6, 2024, at the thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul shipyard located in Itajaí. The new frigate, named the “Jerônimo de Albuquerque,” is the second vessel in Brazil’s Tamandaré-class frigate initiative, which plans to construct a total of four units. These MEKO® class vessels integrate state-of-the-art technology with formidable combat capabilities.
The Tamandaré program is recognized as Brazil’s most groundbreaking naval construction endeavor, developed with local expertise and a technology transfer facilitated by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. In 2020, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems finalized an agreement to take over the shipyard in Itajaí, Brazil, where around 1,300 personnel are currently engaged in the Tamandaré program. This site holds strategic significance: It will be further expanded into a central hub for South America, enhancing customer service and local value creation while establishing a reliable network.
“We are thrilled to celebrate yet another achievement in the surface vessel domain. The construction of Brazil’s most advanced frigate not only underscores our aspirations in international surface ship development but also enhances our relationships throughout South America,” stated Oliver Burkhard, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. “In the future,” he continued, “we aim to transform our product leadership into a systems leadership. This entails providing not just superior subsystems but also the best integrated solutions. To realize this, we are striving to achieve a new stature as a maritime powerhouse, securing and enhancing our position as a premier naval entity.”
The keel laying of the frigate with the construction number F201 represents another benchmark in the surface vessel industry. It follows the achievements of 2023, when the third high-performance frigate for the Egyptian Navy was delivered at record speed towards the end of the year. The fourth frigate was launched in early December 2023 and is presently being finalized in close collaboration with thyssenkrupp Marine Systems at Egypt’s Alexandria Shipyard.
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems stands as the singular supplier in Germany unifying both the surface vessel and submarine sectors, inclusive of naval electronics. It possesses ample production capabilities and, with the acquisition of a cutting-edge shipyard site in Wismar, has developed additional facilities for simultaneous boat construction.
Alongside its robust position in the surface vessel realm, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems holds the title of global leader in conventional submarine manufacturing: The initiation of production for the Type 212CD submarines for Germany and Norway marks the largest order in the company’s history. Recent milestones include the signing of a letter of intent to construct new submarines for India and the christening of the “Inimitable” for Singapore. Moreover, Marine Systems based in Kiel is currently producing the largest submarines, measuring approximately 70 meters in length and displacing around 2,000 tonnes. The company is also in negotiations with other prospective clients in both surface vessel and submarine construction sectors.
To accommodate continually rising demands, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will persist in its trajectory of growth as a maritime powerhouse in the upcoming months, advancing integrated system solutions. To foster this expansion, it seeks to align its organizational development with the decision to merge thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK. Additionally, thyssenkrupp, alongside owner Carlyle, is exploring collaborative opportunities regarding the planned autonomy of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Both companies have agreed to conduct an extensive review and assessment, with a focus on a possible partial sale to Carlyle. Concurrently, discussions are in progress with the German government and KfW Bank about state participation in thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.
From a financial standpoint, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is well-positioned for the ensuing years. By the conclusion of the 2022/23 fiscal year, its order backlog had reached approximately 13 billion euros.
