Within ten years, French Naval Group will deliver the future HNLMS Orka and Zwaardvis. This will be followed by the Barracuda and Tijgerhaai. The delivery agreement of the four submarines was officially ratified with signatures on 30 September.
https://www.defensie.nl/Signing of the contract took place in Den Helder by State Secretary of Defence Gijs Tuinman and CEO Naval Group Pierre Eric Pommellet.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was recently concluded between the Dutch and French governments. This was an important condition to enable the signing of the contract. The MoU includes agreements on sharing information, knowledge and user rights, among other things.
Also read: Parliament gives green light to Dutch submarine contract
Dutch industry involved
The supply contract is also accompanied by an industrial cooperation agreement (ICA) concluded earlier this month. This means that around EUR 1 billion will be spent on orders from Dutch companies and that Dutch knowledge institutes will also remain involved.
It generates work, money and knowledge. ‘But just as important is that it allows the Dutch maritime manufacturing industry and knowledge institutes to show the world what we have in house,’ the State Secretary says proudly. He lists hydraulic systems, climate systems and acoustic cladding. ‘To detection equipment, sonar, composite structures and means of making drinking water on board a submarine.’
Also read: Dutch firms to land EUR 1 billion in submarine orders
Complex procurement process
To arrive at the choice of the so-called Orka-class, Defence certainly did not select a yard overnight. The Materiel and IT Command (Commit), the initiator of the complex procurement process, made this choice possible. It was done in cooperation with other parties involved.
Tuinman compared the procurement process with his time as a commando. When he made heavy marches with his unit in preparation for missions. ‘In advance, you study the map and make as detailed a plan as possible. Yet you already know that the actual march is going to be different. You encounter unforeseen obstacles and reality always turns out differently than on paper. Sometimes you wonder what you have started. Yet you persevere, because you know the importance of the mission.’
Also read: Serious doubts over government decision on submarine replacement
Strike force and intelligence
Tuinman also cites the mission to buy four submarines as being of great importance. ‘The threat is increasing all around us,’ he says. ‘We are investing heavily in our strike force and our contribution to NATO. We do this based on the belief that credible deterrence is the best defence. We prevent war by preparing for it.’ Reason for also acquiring new submarines.
Tuinman cites that cruise missiles are a strategic capability. ‘I know how important this resource is for the deployment of special forces and intelligence gathering. And the same goes for its great striking power and deterrent effect.’ If they have to, they are lethal, because with the cruise weapons they are given, the submarines are capable of striking up to hundreds of kilometres behind the coastline. ‘But they will also be equipped with the latest sensors and communication systems to gather and share intelligence,’ reports Tuinman
As far as he is concerned, the Orka-class will give the Netherlands state-of-the-art submarines. ‘With these, we can serve Dutch security interests and those of NATO and Europe to the maximum.’
Picture: The Orka-class submarine (by the Dutch Ministry of Defence).
Also read: Submarine power plants: potential of new configurations
