RH Marine and Naval Group formalize partnership in Dutch submarine replacement program

September 26, 2025, by Aida Čučuk

Dutch naval and maritime technology company RH Marine and French shipbuilding major Naval Group have signed a contract as part of their collaboration within the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability (RNSC) program for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

As part of the agreement, RH Marine said it will contribute its expertise in platform automation, power distribution, and integrated system solutions. The company noted that it is “proud to play a key role in ensuring operational excellence and long-term support for the new class of submarines.”

Koen Staffeleu, Business Unit General Manager Naval, RH Marine, commented: “This contract not only strengthens our partnership with Naval Group, but also reflects our joint ambition to support the Royal Netherlands Navy with innovative and future-proof solutions. It confirms RH Marine’s role as a trusted partner within the Dutch naval ecosystem.”

Mark Donderwinkel, Country Director, Naval Group NL, stated: “RH Marine is a key partner for us in Team Orka. We highly value the expertise, innovation and submarine experience of RH Marine and look forward to work together to deliver a state-of-the-art capability to the Royal Netherlands Navy.”

To remind, Naval Group and the Netherlands signed an industrial cooperation agreement (ICA) related to the contract for the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability (RNSC) program back in 2024.

As disclosed, the agreement lays out the industrial cooperation strategy of Naval Group with the Netherlands’ defense and maritime sector, involving industries and knowledge centers, with the aim of maximizing strategic autonomy.