TKMS

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TKMS
Company typePrivate
IndustryShipbuilding
FoundedJanuary 5, 2005; 20 years ago (2005-01-05)
Headquarters
Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
,
Germany
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Oliver Burkhard (chairman and CEO)
OwnerThyssenKrupp
Number of employees
8000 (2025)
ParentThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions
SubsidiariesHowaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Atlas Elektronik
Websitewww.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com/en

TKMS –officially branded as ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems until June 2025–[1] is a group and holding company of providers of naval vessels, surface ships and submarines. It was founded when large industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp acquired Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft on January 5, 2005.

Composition

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The group consists of:

As of August 30, 2006, the group represented a sales volume of around €2.2 billion and had a workforce of 8,400 people.

It is said that ThyssenKrupp wants to sell its Yards' Business in Emden, Kiel and Hamburg.[2]

On the 12th of April 2023, ThyssenKrupp sold its stake on Hellenic Shipyards to George Prokopiou.[3]

History

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The corporation opened a branch office in Karachi, Pakistan on 25 July 2007. By January 2009, it had become one of the biggest private shipbuilding companies in Pakistan.

In 2017 the Israeli government and TKMS signed a deal for three Dakar-class submarines. Allegations of corruption surrounding the deal have led to the formation of an Israeli governmental committee of inquiry and subsequent prosecution for corruption.[4]

In 2021, TKMS received the biggest order in its history, worth €5.5 billion for six identical Type 212CD submarines (in partnership with Kongsberg Gruppen) for the German and Norwegian navies.[5][6] In January 2021, ThyssenKrupp confirmed the acquisition of the Oceana shipyard in Itajaí, Brazil, becoming the company's first shipyard in Latin America, with the objective of building the new Brazilian Tamandaré-class frigates.[7]

In 2023, TKMS signed a memorandum of understanding with India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, with the value of the agreement expected to be about 7 billion euros.[8][9]

Also in 2023, the German government signalled that it was prepared to back a sale of TKMS by taking a supporting minority stake.[10] Since 2024, ThyssenKrupp has been running a dual-track process for TKMS, which could result in either a sale or spin-off of the division. In June 2024, private equity firm Carlyle and German development bank KfW entered into negotiations to jointly acquire a majority stake in TKMS.[11] By October 2024, Carlyle abandoned the negotiations.[12]

In 2024, TKMS and German peer NVL formed a joint venture to primarily build F127 frigates.[13]

In July 2025, the German government reached a preliminary agreement with ThyssenKrupp on getting a right of approval if a stake of 25% or more were to be sold in TKMS following a spin-off; in addition, the government would have a pre-emptive right if ThyssenKrupp were to sell a stake of 5% or more to a third party.[14]

In August 2025, TKMS lost out against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on a landmark $6.5 billion deal to supply the Royal Australian Navy with new frigates.[15] That same month, it became one of the two finalists, along with Hanwha Ocean, under consideration for a contract to deliver up to twelve submarines to the Royal Canadian Navy.[16]

Current submarine classes sold and in production

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Confirmed sales

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Class Subclass Order / in production Client Notes
Dakar class — 3  Israeli Navy 3 ordered in Jan 2022[17]
Type 214 Reis class 4  Turkish Navy Part of a class of 6 submarines ordered in Jul 2009, 4 still in production, made under licence by the Gölcük Naval Shipyard in Turkey.[18][19]
Type 212CD — 6  Deutsche Marine 2 ordered in Aug 2021[20]

4 ordered in Dec 2024[21]

4  Royal Norwegian Navy 4 ordered in Aug 2021[20]
Type 214 — 6  Indian Navy Class selected in Jan 2025, as part of the Project P-75I, likely to be produced under licence in India.[22]
Type 218 Invincible class 2  Republic of Singapore Navy In Mar 2025, the Defence Minister announced a plan to purchase 2 additional submarines of this class[23]

The order was confirmed in May.[24]

Total 25

Likely sales

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Class Subclass Likely sales Client Notes
Type 212CD — 2  Royal Norwegian Navy 2 approved to be ordered by the parliament in Jun 2024[25]
Total 2

Planned replacements

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Ongoing bids and potential sales in new submarine purchase programmes.

Class Subclass Potential sales Client Notes
Type 209 Type 209NG 3  Argentine Navy In competition with Naval Group to supply submarines to Argentina.[26]
— 4  Egyptian Navy The Egyptian Navy is looking to replace its Romeo-class submarines, and the Type 209 is among the likely competitors.[27]
Type 209NG Type 209NG 4  Hellenic Navy The Hellenic Navy is planning to procure 4 submarines, and one of the German models will be offered.[28]

They will replace the Glafkos class (Type 209/1100) and Poseidon class (Type 209/1200) submarines.

Type 218 —
Type 212CD — 3  Deutsche Marine According to the Zielbild Marine 2035+ plan, the German will operate from 6 to 9 Type 212 CD, therefore up to 3 additional Type 212 CD[29]
3  Polish Navy The Polish Navy is looking for 3 attack submarines as part of the Orka programme.[30]
12  Royal Canadian Navy Canada unveiled its plan for the future of its navy, which includes up to 12 submarines. Norway and Germany offered a partnership with the Type 212CD.[31][32]The competitor is Hanwha Ocean.[33]
— — 2  Chilean Navy The Chilean Navy is looking to replace its 2 Thomson class (Type 209/1400-L)[34]
Up to 31

References

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  1. ^ "thyssenkrupp Marine Systems becomes TKMS – New brand, new claim and new colors". thyssenkrupp. 4 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Thyssenkrupp könnte seine Werften verkaufen". KN - Kieler Nachrichten (in German). 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Completion of sale of the Skaramangas Shipyards to George Prokopiou (in Greek)". Business Daily. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. ^ ToI Staff. "Israel signs scandal-ridden €3 billion deal with Germany to buy new submarines". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  5. ^ Sabine Siebold (23 June 2021), Germany backs 2.7 bln euro contract to buy two Thyssenkrupp submarines - source Reuters.
  6. ^ Laura Pitel, Patricia Nilsson and Alexandra Heal (25 October 2025), Carlyle drops bid for Thyssenkrupp defence unit over Berlin indecision Financial Times.
  7. ^ "Estaleiro responsável por construir as fragatas Classe Tamandaré agora é thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul". Defesa Aérea & Naval (in Portuguese). 12 January 2021.
  8. ^ Alexander Ratz and Christoph Steitz (6 June 2023), Thyssenkrupp could bid to supply six submarines to Indian Navy Reuters.
  9. ^ Christoph Steitz (6 June 2023), Thyssenkrupp, India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders sign submarine MoU Reuters.
  10. ^ Laura Pitel, Patricia Nilsson and Alexandra Heal (25 October 2025), Carlyle drops bid for Thyssenkrupp defence unit over Berlin indecision Financial Times.
  11. ^ Christoph Steitz, Emma-Victoria Farr and Tom Käckenhoff (14 June 2024), Carlyle, KfW join forces in effort to buy Thyssenkrupp warship division, sources say Reuters.
  12. ^ Matthias Inverardi, Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz (23 October 2024), Luerssen, Rheinmetall among potential suitors for Thyssenkrupp marine unit, sources say Reuters.
  13. ^ Matthias Inverardi and Christoph Steitz (9 August 2024), Thyssenkrupp marine unit, NVL to form frigate joint venture, says German cartel office Reuters.
  14. ^ Markus Wacket and Christoph Steitz (11 July 2025), Berlin secures influence at warship builder TKMS as part of planned spin-off Reuters.
  15. ^ Kirsty Needham, Tim Kelly and Alasdair Pal (5 August 2025), Japan clinches landmark $6.5 billion warship deal with Australia to counter China Reuters.
  16. ^ Riham Alkousaa and Sarah Marsh (26 August 2025), Thyssenkrupp defence unit short-listed in Canadian submarine deal, PM says in Berlin Reuters.
  17. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (2022-01-20). "Israel orders 3 new Dakar-class submarines from TKMS". Naval News. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  18. ^ ">Turkey signs contract for six Type 214 submarines". devrimyaylali.com. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  19. ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (2022-05-24). "Turkey launches second Reis-class Type 214 AIP submarine". Naval News. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  20. ^ a b "Ceremony for the major submarine contracts between Norway and Germany". www.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  21. ^ "Record order – thyssenkrupp Marine Systems granted order expansion in the 212CD program". thyssenkrupp. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  22. ^ Bisht, Inder Singh (2025-01-28). "Thyssenkrupp Wins Indian Navy Deal to Build Six AIP-Equipped Subs". The Defense Post. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  23. ^ "Singapore to buy 2 more submarines and introduce new 'Titan' infantry fighting vehicle". CNA. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  24. ^ Valpolini, Paolo (2025-05-10). "thyssenkrupp Marine Systems receives order extension for two additional submarines from Singapore". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  25. ^ "U212 CD – Norwegen soll zwei weitere U-Boote bekommen" (in German). 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  26. ^ Redacción (2025-02-08). "Germany would double down on its bid to equip the Argentine Navy with TKMS Type 209NG submarines". Zona Militar. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  27. ^ "Egypt considers new submarine acquisitions | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  28. ^ "Greece to Buy Four New Submarines". MarineLink. 2025-03-12. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  29. ^ Luck, Alex (2023-03-10). "German Navy mulling drone-heavy force structure looking towards 2035 and beyond". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  30. ^ "MSPO 2023: TKMS reveals potential offerings for Polish Navy's 'Orka' submarine programme". Default. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  31. ^ "Deutschland und Norwegen schlagen Kanada maritime Partnerschaft vor". 11 May 2024.
  32. ^ Staff, Naval News (2024-07-11). "Canada launches process to acquire up to 12 conventionally-powered submarines". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  33. ^ "Kanada: Deutsche TKMS und koreanische Hanwah als mögliche Lieferanten für U-Boote identifiziert" (in German). 2025-08-26. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  34. ^ "The Chilean Navy expects to start a replacement program for the 209/1400L class submarines". The Rio Times. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
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