German metallurgical and engineering giant ThyssenKrupp announced a contract between its shipbuilding division Marine Systems and the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the purchase of three Dakar-class submarines.
"After extensive negotiations, all involved parties agreed on the technical content and contractual terms on Thursday," ThyssenKrupp said in a statement.
According to Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, with a new class of submarines, advanced technology will be presented to Israel.
“This agreement demonstrates ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems' strong commitment to Israel's long-term security. The signing follows careful and comprehensive preparatory work, and I would like to thank our partners in the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Navy for their dedication and professionalism,” said Wirtz.
The Dakar class is a new project that will be specially adapted to the needs of the Israeli Navy. These three submarines will replace the Dolphin-class submarines.
In preparation for the expected order, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has already invested around 250 million euros in its shipyard. The construction of a new shipbuilding workshop and a plant for the production of fuel cells is already clearly visible on the territory of the shipyard.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is one of the world's leading shipbuilding companies. Approximately 3,600 employees work at the Kiel site, making it the largest shipyard in Germany.
