MSPO 2023: TKMS reveals potential offerings for Polish Navy's ‘Orka' submarine programme

Submarine-launched Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile model and the TKMS Type 212CD submarine model on display at MSPO 2023. (Janes/Neil Dee)

German shipyard Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is planning to potentially pitch its Type 212 Common Design (CD) submarine for the Polish Navy's ‘Orka' submarine programme, Janes has learned.

Speaking to Janes at the MSPO 2023 exhibition in Kielce, Poland, a source from TKMS noted the shipyard's interest in the programme, which is to replace the Polish Navy's aging and last remaining ‘Kilo' (Project 877E)-class submarine, ORP Orzeł . Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak previously announced in May that a tender for the Orka programme would be launched in 2023. The project is for an as-yet-unspecified number of cruise missile capable submarines with high stealth characteristics.

The Type 212CD, which is the chosen design for a joint German-Norwegian submarine acquisition of six initial boats, may form the basis of TKMS' Orka pitch, the TKMS source said. A model of the Type 212CD submarine, which is a development of the company's Type 212A model in service with Germany and Italy, was displayed on the stand of TKMS' partner Kongsberg at the MSPO exhibition, along with a model of a submarine-launched version of Kongsberg's naval strike missile (NSM).