European Submarines: Patience is the Key

摘要

Almost all European countries that currently operate submarines are planning or building new boats. Some projects are at an early stage, other programmes are well advanced. This article highlights some of the key European submarine programmes. A programme that has been going on since 2013 is the replacement of the four Dutch WALRUS class submarines, built by the defunct Rotterdam shipyard RDM. In 2019, the first boat, HNLMS ZEELEEUW (1990), became the oldest active Dutch submarine in history. The Dutch Ministry of Defence has promised that the submarines will be replaced from 2028 onwards but, given the slow pace of the Dutch procurement programme in the past, this target is no longer feasible. In line with the established procurement process, after completion of a preparatory phase, a dialogue phase started at the beginning of this year. Three remaining shipyards, Naval Group, Saab Kockums and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) are in talks with the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DM0). The shipyards are asked questions and are challenged to come up with proposals and solutions. All contenders have already submitted a design, but those designs are still in a relatively early phase. The dialogue phase is the crucial phase in the selection process and also lays a foundation for the final design.