The shipbuilding company TKMS has entered into a partnership with Skaramangas Shipyards in Greece. Four Greek Navy submarines are to be extensively modernized.
The agreement between TKMS and Skaramangas provides for the mid-life upgrade (MLU) program to be carried out on four HDW Class 214 submarines that are part of the Greek Navy’s fleet. They were originally built by TKMS and are now to be modernized at Skaramangas.
“By working directly with TKMS as the developer and supplier of the boats’ material packages (Original Equipment Manufacturer), the Hellenic Navy ensures full system compatibility, seamless integration of modernized technologies and uninterrupted access to critical technical data and spare parts,” TKMS said. This would significantly reduce technical and programmatic risks. At the same time, the operational readiness of the submarines can continue to be ensured.
The agreement also states that a significant proportion of MLU activities will be carried out domestically and therefore by local industry. This creates highly qualified jobs and enables the transfer of advanced technologies. In addition, Greece’s sovereign capabilities in the field of naval defense would be strengthened.
“By combining TKMS’ unmatched OEM expertise with strong local industry involvement, the program ensures that Greece’s naval defense capabilities remain robust, future-proof and fully supported,” said Thomas Keupp, Chief Sales Officer at TKMS.
The planned modernizations aim to improve interoperability, enable the integration of advanced combat systems and adapt the fleet to 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 introduction of common systems that strengthen operational cohesion within the fleet.
“This collaboration represents a significant step forward for the Greek shipbuilding industry and for the country’s defense ecosystem and builds on the long-standing relationship between TKMS and the Hellenic Navy,” commented Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, CEO of Skaramangas Shipyards.
The partnership aims to implement the MLU program while creating a sustainable industrial base for future maintenance, modernization and potential newbuilding programs.
The HDW Class 214 are hunting submarines developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW, since 2012 TKMS). The first type ship was launched in 2004, and a total of 14 submarines of this class have been built to date. They are in service in the navies of Greece, Portugal, Turkey and South Korea.
