France’s Naval Group has been selected by the Dutch Ministry of Defence for the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability project, based on the group bidding a conventional diesel-electric-powered variant of its Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarine design, the company announced on 15 March 2024.
The French design was selected ahead of bids from a Damen and Saab teaming, offering a derivative of Saab’s A26 design, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, which was offering its Type 212 design. There will now be detailed negotiations intended to lead to the signature of a contract.
“Naval Group is honoured by the award decision expressed by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD),” the company stated in a press release. “This decision commits the group to implement a full-scale strategic partnership with the Netherlands aimed at supporting the Royal Netherlands Navy submarine service and at intensifying co-operation with the Netherlands’ MoD, industry and R&D partners.”
The programme will replace the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Walrus-class submarines, four of which entered service from April 1990, with four new boats that will be known as the Orka class and will be named Orka, Zwaardvis, Barracuda and Tijgerhaai.
Only three boats of the Walrus remain operational – Zeeleeuw, Dolfijn and Bruinvis – after Walrus was decommissioned in October 2023.
The Orka class are due to enter service from 2034.
