The Hellenic Navy’s four HDW Class Type 214 submarines will receive their mid-life upgrades at Skaramangas Shipyards on the outskirts of Athens after it struck a deal with TKMS.
As per a recent statement from the German company, at the end of last month the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) signed a contract with the Greek shipyard to carry out the maintenance and improvement programme on the four Papanikolis-class boats.
The diesel–electric, air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines were developed exclusively for export by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW), now a part of TKMS. They are 65m long, displace 1,860 tonnes underwater, and are capable of 20 knots submerged.
Three of the four submarines were constructed in Greece by the same yard which has won the MLU deal, then known as Hellenic Shipyards. HS Pipinos, HS Matrozos and HS Katsonis were launched between 2006 and 2015 and commissioned between 2014 and 2016.
As per the press statement, they are in line for “extensive modernisation” during the upgrade programme. It noted: “The planned upgrades are designed to enhance interoperability, enable the integration of advanced combat systems and align the fleet with evolving European defense initiatives and standards.
“In this context, the program supports long-term strategic planning, including potential future acquisitions of next-generation submarine platforms and the adoption of common systems that enhance operational cohesion across the fleet.”
Chief Sales Officer at TKMS Thomas Keupp commented: “By combining TKMS’s unmatched OEM expertise with powerful local industrial participation, the programme ensures that Greece’s naval defense capabilities remain robust, future-proof and fully supported.”
CEO of Skaramangas Shipyards Miltiadis Varvitsiotis added: “This collaboration represents a major step forward for the Greek shipbuilding industry and for the country’s defence ecosystem, building on the long-standing relationship between TKMS and the Hellenic Navy.”
- You can read more details on the TKMS website