The new Orka-class submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) will become the first NATO SSK fleet to field Naval Group’s F21 heavyweight torpedoes.
Last week the Netherlands Ministry of Defence signed a contract with the firm for the supply of the new-generation F21 heavyweight projectiles to equip the RNLN’s new attack boats.
As per Naval Group, the RNLN boats will be the first NATO diesel-electric hunter-killer attack submarine fleet to field the F21; at present, the torpedoes are used only by the French Navy’s nuclear-powered boats and the Brazilian Navy’s SSKs.
Vice Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, Commander of the Dutch Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT), commented: “The signing of this contract for the F21 torpedo marks an important step in our strategic partnership. The weapon system will be integrated into the future Orka-class submarines, enhancing the capabilities of the Royal Netherlands Navy. We look forward to the next phases in our cooperation.”
And Chairman and CEO of Naval Group Pierre Éric Pommellet added: “We are honoured for the selection of the F21 torpedo as one of the weapons of reference for the Orka-class submarines.”
At present the RNLN is operating three of its four original Walrus-class submarines. The Walrus itself was decommissioned in 2023, and the other three submarines in the class, the Zeeleeuw (Sea Lion), Dolfijn (Dolphin) and Bruinvis (Porpoise), remain in active service.
Built between 1979 and 1988, with the last boat, Bruinvis, commissioned in 1994, boats in the class have been in service since 1990 and they are nearing the end of their operational life.
From 2035 they are set to be replaced by four Orka-class boats: Orka (Orca), Zwaardvis (Swordfish), Barracuda and Tijgerhaai (Tiger Shark). They will essentially be smaller, conventionally powered versions of the French Barracuda Suffren-class submarines.
A deal to build the new boats was agreed with Naval Group at the end of September 2024; delivery of the first two new boats is due within ten years of the signing of the contract.
- You can read more details about the F21 deal on the Naval Group website