French shipbuilder Naval Group has signed a delivery contract to build four new submarines for the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The deal, sealed on Monday by Dutch State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman and Naval Group CEO Pierre Eric Pommelet, is part of the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability program, which involves updating the Walrus-class fleet, commissioned since the early ‘90s, with the improved Orka-class program.
Naval Group said the Orka ships would be a variant of France’s Barracuda family of nuclear-propelled attack submarines armed with heavyweight wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and naval mines.
According to the Dutch MinDef, the replacements will be named HNLMS Orka, HNLMS Zwaardvis, HNLMS Barracuda and HNLMS Tijgerhaai, featuring a new design, a cruise missile launch capability, upgraded sensors and communication systems, and a larger energy capacity.
“A thorough procurement process has pointed the Orka-class by Naval Group out to be the best replacement for the Walrus-class submarines,” said Jan Willem Hartman, commander of the Materiel and IT Command, which evaluated Naval Group’s bid. “The Orka, Zwaardvis, Barracuda and Tijgerhaai will give the Netherlands Submarine Service a head start in underwater warfare.”
Naval Group is expected to deliver the first two new orders within 10 years after the contract signing. Meanwhile, MinDef plans to decommission two of its current Walrus-class submarines and keep its spare parts available to extend the other boats’ lifespan until mid-2030s.