The Dutch cabinet of Prime Minister Rutte has not yet decided which European or Dutch shipyard will build the four new Dutch submarines. It was intended that by the end of this year at the latest, a proposal would be presented by the Defense Summit to choose among the four shipbuilders still in the running for the contract.
The Dutch armed forces need four new submarines. It is a multi-billion euro order with not only economic but especially large political interests: politics in The Hague are divided on the matter.
Dutch Defense wants to purchase the four new submarines for at least 3.5 billion euros. Four shipyards remain in contention: the French Naval Group, Navantia from Spain, Saab Kockums from Sweden, and the German TKMS. However, political parties in The Hague want the development, construction, and maintenance to also deliver something for the Dutch economy.
Initially, the choice seemed more or less settled earlier this year because NATO partner France, with the Naval shipyard, has a good type of submarine ready on the drawing board and has entered into an attractive collaboration with the Dutch IHC. The French promise to have part of the work carried out in the Netherlands.
The naval command appears to prefer a combination with the Dutch shipbuilder Damen. But not only the Ministry of Defense decides on the purchase; the Ministries of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Foreign Affairs also have a say.
Soon the Dutch cabinet was supposed to decide whether to proceed with one or multiple shipbuilders to the next round of the tender. It appears that decision is being postponed. This means that there apparently is no agreement yet within government circles.