Netherlands selects France's Naval Group for new submarine fleet
The Netherlands has chosen the French company Naval Group as the supplier for four submarines for its navy. The first submarine will be named after the Polish programme for acquiring submarines. Here’s what the Dutch are buying.
This concludes the process where offers from Naval Group, Saab, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems have been competing since 2019. The winning bid from France will build four submarines, which will replace the ageing Walrus-class ships introduced into service in the Royal Netherlands Navy in the 1990s.
The new ships will sustain the Netherlands’ ability to conduct expeditionary missions, including intelligence gathering. And, thanks to the capability of carrying cruise missiles, they will significantly enhance offensive capabilities. The names of the future submarines are Orca, Zwaardvis, Barracuda, and Tijgerhaai.
Furthermore, the winner of the competition, in accordance with the agreements, will contribute to strengthening the Dutch technological and industrial base, which consists of about 1,000 companies. For this reason, the local shipbuilding industry will not only have a significant share in the construction of the ships but also in their operation. The delivery of the first two ships is to occur within 10 years of signing the executive contract.
Barracuda for the Netherlands — France's Strike Submarine, but non-nuclear
The Netherlands opted for the French offer, a shortened and equipped with conventional propulsion (not nuclear) version of the Barracuda class, known as Blacksword. This is a very modern project based on France’s latest submarines. It is worth noting that the first unit from this family was introduced into service in June 2022.
These innovative ships are equipped with the latest sound-dampening coatings and propulsion based on a water jet instead of a traditional propeller. They measure about 99 metres in length, 9 metres in width, and have a displacement of around 5,100 tonnes. Their armament includes F21 torpedoes, FG29 mines, SM39 Exocet Block 2 missiles, and MdCN cruise missiles with a range of over 1,000 kilometres. Additionally, they have space for 15 special forces soldiers.
It is known that the Dutch variant will be shorter (about 90 metres) and likely, due to conventional propulsion, not be operationally active for more than 270 days. The crew might also be slightly smaller than the French version, which counts 63 sailors.
