Dutch shipbuilder to supply steel components for future submarines

Dutch shipbuilding and design firm Royal IHC and French defence company the Naval Group have entered into an agreement wherein Royal IHC will supply steel structures and other components for use in the construction of four new diesel-electric submarines for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).

Royal IHC will be responsible for the development and delivery of the modules and the steel structures for all four submarines in the Orka-class, which the Naval Group is building to replace the ageing Walrus-class boats in RNLN service.

Royal IHC said the work will largely take place in the Netherlands and in close cooperation with other Dutch suppliers.

Royal IHC expects construction of the modules to start in the second half of 2026. For this, the company will set up new facilities and secure zones at its location, which will be suitable for the production of what it said are highly sensitive and complex systems.

The Orka-class submarines will be diesel-electric powered variants of the nuclear-powered Barracuda-class boats originally developed by the Naval Group for the French Navy.

Each Orka-class submarine will have a displacement of 3,300 tonnes, a length of 82 metres, a hull diameter of 8.2 metres, a range of 15,000 nautical miles, space for up to 43 crewmembers, torpedo and cruise missile armament, and a propulsion system that will include lithium-ion batteries.