March 15, 2024

Final Dutch Decision Awaits Lower House 18/3 Onwards

The final Dutch decision stage on the Walrus Replacement apparently will not be the Dutch Council of Ministers meeting on Friday March 15, 2024 (Dutch time). 

Instead the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament must debate the Decision on, or from, Monday, March 18 (Dutch time). 

Sources

1.  https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/03/netherlands-to-order-four-new-submarines-from-french-shipbuilder/ 

"The order is politically sensitive because Saab, one of the losing bidders, has a partnership with Dutch shipyard Damen. Parliament is due to debate the [Walrus Replacement] deal next Monday, once the council of ministers has signed it off on Friday." 

and 

2.  https://nltimes.nl/2024/03/12/dutch-government-ordered-four-submarines-french-state-company-naval-eu6-bil-deal 

"The formal decision will be made at the weekly Cabinet [more correctly Council of Ministers] meeting on Friday, the sources said. After that, the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, must assess and approve the purchase."

Pete Comment

I am unaware whether this subsequent lower house approval is a mere technicality or whether it is a major hurdle that might overturn the Council of Ministers' decision.

Also, might lower house approval potentially take hours, days or weeks?

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous3/16/2024 12:40 AM

    https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/03/the-netherlands-select-naval-group-for-its-new-submarines/

    Looks like a very stealthy design. Maybe quieter than the German submarines? There is something to be said of having an SSN program from which you can backport tech to your SSK designs.

    Also from what I've seen this does not have an AIP. Seems like a large Li-ion battery sub more inline with what the Japanese are doing than the Korean KSS-III that other countries are looking at.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous3/16/2024 1:32 AM

    Last News :
    A good article summarizing the program situation and the selection of French shipyard Naval Group.
    https://www.lemonde.fr/en/europe/article/2024/03/15/the-netherlands-pick-france-s-naval-group-for-submarines-deal_6622270_143.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous3/16/2024 5:00 AM

    Hi Pete

    We already got names for the new boats
    'Orka'(Orca) 'Zwaardvis' (swordfish) 'Tijgerhaai' (tigershark) And 'Barracuda'

    The class is gonna be called 'Orkaklasse' (Orca Class)


    https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Nederland-kiest-voor-Franse-boten-150324.html


    Kevin

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  4. Anonymous3/16/2024 5:11 AM

    To answer your question.

    The curend government is a outgoing government with a minority backing.
    Till the new government is formed and installed needs the current government a approval from parliament for basically everything. The D brief will be tabled over 2 weeks or so it is to the parment how it will proceed further.


    Kevin

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  5. Anonymous3/16/2024 10:06 PM

    If the Netherlands government didn't choose Damen/Saab, even with a full construction in the Netherlands it is probably because their design is too far from the Swedish A26, leading to very risky project, and major overcosts (like on current A26 program), even if their offer have an higher price.
    With the current geopolitical context, the also probably choose the French submarine for its better performances in all domains, especially if its derived from the Suffren class SSN.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pete23/17/2024 12:17 PM

    Hi Anonymous's and Kevin

    Thanks for your responses.

    Seems the Dutch Parliament may press for an increased proportion of Dutch work/input on the Orkas.

    This given the Orkas are being built in Cherbourg? in France? and not in the Netherlands.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherbourg_Naval_Base#Cherbourg_Arsenal

    Regards Pete

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