TKMS has signed one of the largest service contracts in the company’s history with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw). As prime contractor, TKMS will provide comprehensive modernisation and support services for the six German Type 212A submarines.
The official signing of the contract took place on 27 June in Koblenz. The order spans a total volume of more than EUR 800 million and will have a term of ten years.
The contract provides for the modernisation of core systems on board the boats, in particular the navigation system and the command and weapons control system on the four older boats of the first batch. The objective is to secure the technological superiority of the German submarine fleet over the long term, in order to meet future challenges in national and alliance defense in a targeted manner.
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Value creation in Germany
TKMS, formerly Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, is a key industrial partner at the side of the German Navy. In the field of logistic support, the company offers a comprehensive range of services, from maintenance and repair to modernisation and product-specific material logistics, thus making an important and long-term contribution to the technical readiness of the German submarine fleet. As a prime contractor in submarine construction, TKMS bundles the innovative strength of numerous small and medium-sized companies and thus also makes a significant contribution to industrial value creation in Germany.
‘This important service contract also strengthens our established and trusting cooperation with the German Navy in the area of maintenance,’ emphasises Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS. ‘As a maritime powerhouse, we will utilise the full range of services offered by TKMS and contribute to the high operational availability and performance of the German submarine fleet with our many years of expertise.’
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Work until well into the 2040s
TKMS is one of the world’s leading suppliers of conventional submarines. The latest orders in the underwater sector include four more 212CD submarines for Germany and two more 218SG submarines for Singapore. As of May 2025, TKMS’ order backlog stood at a record level of EUR 18 billion and will ensure production capacity utilisation and employment well into the 2040s. The service contract that has now been concluded also contributes to the further increase in the order book and prolongs the generally positive market situation.
Picture: Contract signing for the modernisation of six German submarines, with from left to right: Christian Rogge, Annette Lehnigk, and Emden Wolfgang Kehr (photo by TKMS).
