SAAB and Damen Shipyards have agreed to export the advanced Expeditionary C-71 submarines. 

The agreement doubles the long-term prospect of employment and income for the Netherlands Naval Cluster with the replacement of the Walrus submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy by SAAB-Damen.

SAAB and Damen have been working together since 2015 to build, modernise and maintain the new expeditionary submarine for the Royal Netherlands Navy. 

The expeditionary submarine is based on the successful, proven, and future-proof design of the A26 submarines and incorporates the latest capabilities and technologies, while its modular design allows room for customizability in view of newly-developed technologies, ensuring relevance for decades to come.

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For this new expeditionary design, SAAB is working closely with Damen Shipyards and a range of Dutch suppliers and is supported by the United Kingdom. Four countries currently operate submarines and submarine technology designed by SAAB: Sweden, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.

The expeditionary submarine builds on the success of the Collins-class and Blekinge-class submarines, operated by the Royal Australian Navy and the Swedish Navy, which were the largest conventionally powered submarines in the world at the time of their commissioning. 

Indicatively, the Collins-class submarines feature the following specifications:

• Single-hull with two deck compartments 
• Length: 77.8 meters
• Beam: 7.8 meters 
• Displacement: 3100 tons 
• Draft: 7 meters
• Endurance: 70 days 
• Operational range: 21,300 km
• Speed: 20 knots submerged 
• Complement: 58 people 
• Armament: 6 torpedo tubes with a mixed payload for 22 Mark 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedoes, UGM-84C Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 44 Stonefish Mark III underwater mines

The two companies have now also agreed to offer their advanced Expeditionary submarines to Canada, a country in the initial phase of a similar process to replace their hybrid propulsion (diesel-electric) submarines.

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