German naval firm TKMS has secured an €800 million contract from the German Navy to modernise six Type 212a submarines.
As per a recent company press statement, the new deal struck with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in Koblenz on Friday spans a ten-year period.
The bulk of the work to be carried out under the programme will focus on upgrading the navigation and command and weapons-control systems of the four oldest boats, U-31 through U-34, which were commissioned into service with the Deutsche Marine between October 2005 and May 2007.
The diesel-electric attack submarines are equipped with an AIP (air-independent propulsion) system and are capable of about 20 knots underwater; they can spend up to three weeks at a time fully submerged.
They are armed with heavyweight torpedoes and mines and their design makes them ideal for littoral operations: they are capable of operating in waters as shallow as 17 metres (56ft).
Speaking about the new contract, TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard commented: “This important service contract also strengthens our established and trusting cooperation with the German Navy in the area of maintenance.”
He added: “As a maritime powerhouse, we will utilize 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.”
TKMS is currently also building four more of the boats’ successor, the Type 212CD submarines, for Germany as well as two more 218SG submarines for Singapore, with scheduled delivery of these boats stretching into the 2040s.
It has three major shipyards: two in Germany in Kiel and Wismar, and a third in Itajaí, Brazil. Here and in various other locations worldwide it employs in excess of 8,500 workers.
- You can read more details about the deal on the TKMS website
