France’s Naval Group wins $6 billion Dutch submarine project

PARIS — The Netherlands has picked France’s Naval Group to construct 4 assault submarines in a mission price €5.65 billion (U.S. $6.17 billion), beating gives from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Methods and Sweden’s Saab Kockums in cooperation with Dutch shipbuilder Damen.

Naval Group will present a conventionally powered model of its Barracuda submarine to switch the Royal Netherlands Navy’s 4 Walrus-class assault submarines, the primary of which the service retired in October.

The French shipbuilder will probably be requested to ship the primary two vessels inside 10 years after signing the contract, the Dutch Defence Ministry mentioned in an announcement Friday.

The contract will embrace a “substantial function” for Dutch business, which was a key requirement, Dutch State Secretary of Defence Christophe van der Maat mentioned in a publish on X, previously generally known as Twitter.

The Netherlands has launched into a spending spree to switch its main naval combatants, and along with the submarines it plans to begin building on greater than 20 floor vessels within the subsequent decade for an funding of greater than €11 billion. For the submarine supply, the Dutch have been searching for an expeditionary vessel that may function within the nation’s abroad territories.

“The vessels supply elevated strike energy and enhanced operational capabilities, and can subsequently be deployable worldwide for numerous sorts of missions,” Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Gen. Onno Eichelsheim mentioned in a publish on X.

The supply contract will probably be signed after the tender evaluation undergoes debate in parliament. The federal government has confronted criticism for the potential alternative of Naval Group, with some lawmakers saying the corporate would favor French jobs over the Dutch naval building business.

The selection of Naval Group will present the Netherlands with ocean-going submarines “of the very best international requirements,” the French authorities mentioned in an announcement following the Dutch announcement. It mentioned a French-Dutch partnership will accompany this system over the long run and assist strengthen bilateral protection cooperation.

The Netherlands had requested proposals from the three candidate yards in November 2022 for 4 long-range, conventionally powered submarines. The funding finances to exchange the nation’s submarine capability is €5.65 billion by means of 2039, which features a delta for exploitation and mission danger reserve, the Defence Ministry wrote in a report back to parliament.

France operates a nuclear-powered model of the Barracuda class, and in 2020 the nation estimated the price of this system to construct and function six submarines within the class at €10.4 billion, up from €8.6 billion in 2010. Naval Group in July final 12 months launched the Tourville, the third vessel of six deliberate for the French Navy.

The Dutch naval drive this month introduced plans to order 4 new air protection frigates for greater than €3.5 billion from Damen and Thales. The Defence Ministry additionally intends to purchase six amphibious transport vessels at a value of €1 billion to €2.5 billion to switch two touchdown platform docks and 4 ocean-going patrol vessels, working with Damen on the mission.

Dutch protection forces have a constitutional obligation to guard the dominion, together with its faraway Caribbean territories, that means the nation requires its submarines to have lengthy ranges and be logistically impartial. The prevailing Walrus class can function in comparatively shallow and slim waterways in comparison with nuclear subs, and it fulfills an “internationally appreciated area of interest capability,” the ministry wrote in a March 2023 report back to parliament.

“Just like their predecessors, the brand new boats will probably be comparatively small, which can permit them to additionally function in shallow waters,” the ministry mentioned. “Nonetheless, as a result of they are going to be bigger than submarines which might be designed to stay near dwelling base, the brand new boats will be capable of function independently removed from dwelling for prolonged intervals of time.”

That mixture of dimension and attain is uncommon, and means the Royal Netherlands Navy’s submarines are “extremely regarded” inside NATO, the ministry mentioned.

The 4 new submarines will symbolize a substantial enchancment in design, and the power to launch cruise missiles will “considerably” improve hanging energy, in response to the ministry. The Netherlands plans to equip the brand new subs with RTX’s Tomahawk cruise missiles for a maritime strike capability, one thing the Walrus class lacks.

The Dutch additionally studied the French MdCN naval cruise missile and thought of the vary inadequate in comparison with the Tomahawk’s greater than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). The ministry beforehand famous the Anglo-French Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon remains to be in improvement and data is missing, although it’s going to proceed to comply with developments across the FC-ASW.

The brand new submarines will carry torpedoes, and they are going to be appropriate for particular forces operations. The vessels will probably be higher fitted to intelligence gathering because of improved sensors, whereas fashionable battery know-how will give them larger power capability than the Walrus class, and subsequently permit them to stay submerged for longer, in response to the ministry.

The brand new vessels will probably be named Orka (Orca), Zwaardvis (Swordfish), Barracuda and Tijgerhaai (Tiger Shark), the Netherlands mentioned.

The nation is concentrating on supply of the primary sub within the third quarter of 2033, with the ultimate vessel delivered within the third quarter of 2037.