French shipbuilder Naval Group has expanded its Dutch industrial partnerships for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s future Orka-class submarine fleet, securing new contracts with Nevesbu and Van Halteren Technologies at a major defense conference in Rotterdam. The agreements further integrate Dutch industry into one of Europe’s most significant naval modernization efforts.
The two companies will join Team Orka, the growing network of Dutch suppliers supporting Naval Group’s bid for the 2024 Netherlands Submarine Replacement Program. The initiative aims to retire the long-serving Walrus-class submarines and build a next-generation capability aligned with NATO’s operational requirements.
These new partnerships also support the broader Industrial Cooperation Agreement between Naval Group and the Amsterdam economic affairs agency, which focuses on fostering local technical expertise, ensuring national autonomy in submarine maintenance, and reinforcing Dutch-French naval collaboration across the Orka-class program lifecycle.
Under the agreement, Nevesbu will take on the design of several highly complex submarine subsystems. The engineering firm brings decades of experience in Dutch undersea-platform development and will work on critical areas such as acoustic signature reduction, precision subsystem integration, and structural design for confined, noise-sensitive environments.
At the same time, Van Halteren Technologies has been tasked with supplying essential onboard systems, including central hydraulic units, cooling and freezing systems, anchor winches, and capstans. All components will be developed and manufactured in-house, optimized for shock resistance, reliability, and lightweight construction, ensuring they meet stringent naval standards.
