The court has rejected the claims of the German shipyard Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS). Today, the District Court of The Hague ruled in the case in which tkMS objected to the (provisional) award decision of the Ministry of Defence to award the construction of 4 submarines to the French Naval Group.
In mid-June, the award decision was widely supported in the House of Representatives with a large majority of votes.
The supply contract between the Ministry of Defence and Naval Group is expected to be signed after the summer. Before the signing takes place, an agreement is first concluded between the Dutch and French governments. This so-called Memorandum of Understanding stipulates, among other things, that the Netherlands can use and maintain the purchased items independently of Naval Group and the French government.
Before the signatures are signed on the supply contract, an industrial cooperation agreement is also concluded. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) is working on this together with Naval Group. This agreement guarantees the involvement of the Dutch industry.
Naval Group will deliver His Majesty’s Orca and Swordfish within 10 years from the time of signing the contract. The other submarines, the Barracuda and the Tiger Shark, follow. The Orca class gives the Navy’s Submarine Service an edge in the underwater combat of the future.