Highlights: Netherlands chooses French Naval Group to build four submarines. Contract worth around 4 to 6 billion euros. First two submarines must enter service within ten years of signing the contract. Dutch Parliament will be called upon to ratify the government's contract before signing any choice is made. The long process, which began in 2015, aims to replace the four Walrus-class submarines launched in the early 1990s, the first of which was withdrawn from service last fall so that its parts could be used to maintain the others.

The Netherlands announced on Friday March 15 that it had chosen the French Naval Group for the construction of four submarines, a project worth several billion euros, to the detriment in particular of the tandem formed…

The Netherlands chooses French Naval Group to build four submarines

The French Naval Group was chosen by The Hague to supply four conventionally powered (non-nuclear) submarines, derived from the French Suffren-class nuclear submarines (pictured here, in October 2020).

By: RFI with AFP

“

After a careful quotation process, Naval Group will build the new submarines

,” declared Secretary of State for Defense

Christophe

van der Maat, present in Helder, in the north of the country, where the largest number of submarines is located. large naval base of the Dutch Navy.

“

They succeeded in offering a balanced, versatile and realistic offer.
Dutch industry also has an important role to play, an important condition in the award process

,” he added.

The competition pitted the French public group Naval Group, allied with the Dutch Royal IHC, the German Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and the Swedish Saab which has formed an alliance with the Dutch shipbuilder Damen.

This long process, which began in 2015, aims to replace the four Walrus-class submarines launched in the early 1990s, the first of which was withdrawn from service last fall so that its parts could be used to maintain the others.

“

Equipped with the latest systems and technologies, the new submarines are a worthy successor to the Walrus class

,” the Dutch Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“

The new submarines constitute an important step in strengthening our security

,” Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defense, said on X.

“

Of the three offers which were proposed very clearly, those which had the greatest capabilities, the largest submarines, those with the most armament, those which could go further, those were the French”

, analyzes Vincent Groizeleau, editor-in-chief of

Mer & Marine

, for RFI.

“

Everyone clearly saw that these submarines were extremely excellent.
There is also confidence in a product which is now beginning to be proven.

A contract worth around 4 to 6 billion euros

The Hague did not mention the price of the contract, but according to local media it could be between 4 and 6 billion euros.

This will also include an industrial cooperation agreement (ICA), aimed "

at strengthening the Dutch technological and industrial defense base

", according to the ministry, even if the assembly of the submarines will be carried out in the Dutch shipyard. company selected.

The first two submarines must enter service within ten years of signing the contract, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Naval Group's victory marks the first export success of its Barracuda submarine, 12 examples of which had been sold to Australia before Canberra canceled the contract

in favor of the Aukus partnership

with London and Washington, triggering passage

of a diplomatic crisis

A first Barracuda, the Suffren, equips the French Navy in a nuclear-powered version.

The model intended for the

Netherlands

is with conventional diesel-electric propulsion and a little smaller, 3,000 tonnes compared to 4,500 tonnes.

The Dutch Navy has expressed its need for long-range ocean-going submarines, which is what the Barracuda was designed for.

“

The Dutch want ships that have very high capacities given the current geostrategic context, that is to say boats capable of going very far, in particular to patrol the Atlantic right up to their possessions, in the Antilles and elsewhere

", explains Vincent Groizeleau who adds that they wish "

to have truly first-rate boats with strong military capabilities, including perhaps the ability to deploy cruise missiles so as to also carry significant capabilities at NATO level

Turmoil in the Dutch Assembly

The Hague's announcement formalizes information that was already circulating in the press in recent days.

The possible selection of the French public group had caused a stir within the Dutch Parliament which will be called upon to ratify the government's choice before any contract signing.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte's office has been carrying out current affairs since the November elections which saw the victory of Islamophobic far-right leader

Geert Wilders

But in the highly fragmented Dutch political system, where no party is strong enough to govern alone, Geert Wilders had to give up becoming Prime Minister in favor of a partially technocratic government which has yet to be formed.

On Wednesday evening March 13 during a debate before the lower house, MP Chris Stoffer of the reformed SGP party – with a strong base in Zealand, where Damen is based – called for “not

letting this government decide, but a new government who chooses in the interest of the Netherlands

But Dutch industry does have a role to play, not only in the construction of new submarines, but also in maintenance, the Secretary of State defended on Friday.

“

This decision is therefore not only good for the navy and our security interests, but certainly also for Dutch companies and the development of our know-how

The Netherlands chooses French Naval Group to build four submarines

The Netherlands chooses French Naval Group to build four submarines

A contract worth around 4 to 6 billion euros

Turmoil in the Dutch Assembly

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