Netherlands MoD details award process for Walrus-class replacement programme

Commissioned into service between 1990 and 1994, the Royal Netherlands Navy's four Walrus-class submarines are planned to be replaced from around 2034. (Royal Netherlands Navy)

As the tender submission deadline for the Walrus-class submarine replacement programme approaches, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) has provided further details on the awards process.

In a 15 June letter to the Dutch parliament's House of Representatives, State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat said the three candidate yards had been advised to submit their bids by 28 July at the latest.

After the submission deadline, the subsequent assessment phase is expected to last until the end of January 2024, he said.

France's Naval Group, Sweden's Saab Kockums, and German yard ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) were shortlisted in December 2019 for the competition to supply four boats to replace the Royal Netherlands Navy's (RNLN's) four Walrus-class diesel-electric submarines (SSKs), which entered service between 1990 and 1994. Following their downselection, the shipyards were sent requests for proposals in November 2022.

In line with the objectives of the Dutch Defence Industry Strategy released in November 2018, the bidders have been encouraged to maximise the through-life participation of Dutch industry and technology institutes. In his letter to parliament, van der Maat said that reaching an agreement on industrial co-operation with the winning yard would be a key element of the award process.