Posted on June 16, 2025
Royal IHC and Naval Group have today signed an agreement for the supply of key components for the new Orka-class submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy. With this contract, Royal IHC substantially contributes to the strategic defence programme, which provides for the replacement of the current ‘Walrus-class’ submarines.
Naval Group, as the main contractor of the Ministry of Defence, is building four state-of-the-art Orka-class submarines. These submarines will be operational from the next decade for national and international security tasks, including deterrence, intelligence gathering, and special operations.
Royal IHC will be responsible for the development and delivery of high-quality modules and steel structures for all four vessels, making this project the largest Dutch industrial contribution within the Orka-class programme.
The collaboration between Royal IHC and Naval Group is the result of years of preparation. Since 2018, both companies have worked together intensively to further develop knowledge and expertise in submarine construction in the Netherlands. The work by Royal IHC will largely take place from the Netherlands, in close cooperation with other Dutch suppliers. This strengthens the national maritime ecosystem and contributes to the preservation of high-quality knowledge, employment, and economic growth.
Derk te Bokkel, CEO of Royal IHC: “As a Dutch supplier of maritime technology, we are proud to make a high-tech contribution to this strategic project. This contract underscores the confidence in the quality and expertise of Royal IHC. We also congratulate all of the other Dutch partners who play a role in this programme. The choice for strong Dutch industrial involvement is essential for the preservation and further development of our knowledge base, employment, and economic strength.”
Mark Donderwinkel, Country Director Netherlands of Naval Group, adds: “The collaboration with Royal IHC is based on its proven expertise in underwater technology and the construction of complex naval vessels. Since 2018, we have invested heavily together in knowledge building and technological integration. The contribution of Royal IHC is of great value to the success of this programme and confirms the importance of sustainable industrial cooperation within Europe.”
The construction of the modules is expected to start in the second half of 2026. For this, Royal IHC will set up new facilities and secure zones at its location, suitable for the production of these highly sensitive and complex systems. It is expected that several hundred direct and indirect jobs in the Netherlands will be created or preserved during the programme’s duration.
With the Orka-class submarines, the Netherlands secures a future-proof submarine capacity, which will make an important contribution to the security of the Kingdom and its allies.
