TKMS and Skaramangas Shipyards to upgrade Hellenic Navy’s Type 214 submarines

April 30, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

German shipbuilder TKMS and Greece’s Skaramangas Shipyards entered into an agreement to jointly execute the mid-life upgrade (MLU) program for the four HDW class 214 submarines of the Hellenic Navy.

The planned upgrades are designed to enhance interoperability, enable the integration of advanced combat systems, and align the fleet with evolving European defense initiatives and standards.

In this context, the program supports long-term strategic planning, including potential future acquisitions of next-generation submarine platforms and the adoption of common systems that enhance operational cohesion across the fleet.

The partnership is designed to deliver the MLU program while also establishing a sustainable industrial foundation for future maintenance, upgrades, and potential new construction programs.

Direct engagement with the original equipment manufacturer, TKMS, will allow the Hellenic Navy to secure access to technical data and spare parts, support the integration of updated technologies, and maintain overall system coherence, thereby limiting technical and program-related risks while sustaining operational readiness.

“By combining TKMS’s unmatched OEM expertise with powerful local industrial participation, the program ensures that Greece’s naval defense capabilities remain robust, future-proof and fully supported,” Thomas Keupp, Chief Sales Officer at TKMS, said.

“This collaboration represents a major step forward for the Greek shipbuilding industry and for the country’s defense ecosystem, building on the long-standing relationship between TKMS and the Hellenic Navy,” Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, CEO of Skaramangas Shipyards, added.

The Type 214 design combines diesel-electric propulsion with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system based on hydrogen fuel cells.

This technology allows the submarines to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing, significantly reducing detectability. The class is optimized for low acoustic signature, enhancing stealth during operations, and supports a wide range of missions from coastal surveillance to open-sea patrols.

In terms of characteristics, HDW class 214 submarines are 71 meters long, with a submerged displacement of around 2,000 tons.