Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) have announced a cooperation agreement aimed at further promoting close industrial collaboration in support of the defence needs of Norway, Germany, and other allied countries.
The signed agreement primarily aims to strengthen the trust relationship between the two partners and to further promote technological cooperation in the future.
In 2024, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence selected Germany as one of the four countries to discuss a possible strategic partnership for the supply of new frigates intended to replace the current Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates in service with the Royal Navy.
TKMS and KONGSBERG are partners in the U212CD submarine program being built for the German Navy and the Royal Navy, with the former building the boats and the latter providing the combat system.
The agreement brings together several areas in which the two companies already collaborate and further strengthens their ability to provide advanced defence capabilities to the Norwegian and German Armed Forces, today and in the future.
On the basis of the new agreement, the two companies are launching a long-term cooperation in joint programs, existing and future ones, in all military sectors. Possible joint initiatives might include the Vanguard naval system that Norway is about to sell to Lithuania and adopt, a strategic partnership for lifelong support of the new Royal Navy frigates, strike missiles from the NSM, maritime surveillance and targeting systems, and the supply of naval systems to the frigates of both nations and other Navies.
