TKMS
A German naval-systems group that designs, builds and supports conventional submarines, surface combatants and associated maritime defence systems.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
TKMS, formerly known as thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, is a German naval-defence group and holding company associated with thyssenkrupp AG. Its business covers the development, construction, integration and support of military vessels and underwater systems, with particular strength in conventionally powered submarines. The group also participates in surface-ship programmes, naval electronics, maritime sensors, combat-system integration and through-life support. The modern TKMS group was established after thyssenkrupp acquired Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in January 2005. The Kiel-based shipbuilder became the core of a broader naval portfolio that subsequently included shipyards and specialist defence companies in Germany and abroad. Important businesses associated with the group have included Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, TKMS Wismar, Atlas Elektronik in Bremen and Estaleiro Brasil Sul in Itajaí, Brazil. TKMS has also maintained international commercial and industrial relationships, including a branch presence in Pakistan and cooperation with foreign shipyards and defence manufacturers. Submarines are the brand's principal area of recognition. TKMS has supplied diesel-electric submarine families such as the Type 209, Type 212A and Type 214 to international customers. These boats are marketed around stealth, submerged endurance, low acoustic signatures and the ability to operate in relatively shallow or congested waters. The Type 212CD programme, developed with Kongsberg for Germany and Norway, represents a newer generation of conventionally powered submarines with a common design intended to improve interoperability and reduce programme duplication. TKMS also builds and supports surface combatants. Its portfolio and historical programme involvement include frigates, corvettes, destroyers and mission systems. German naval programmes such as the F125 frigates have been among the most visible examples of its surface-ship work, while international activities have included participation in Brazil's Tamandaré-class frigate programme and proposed or prospective frigate cooperation with India and other countries. In 2024, TKMS and Germany's NVL formed a joint venture focused primarily on the prospective F127 frigate programme. The group operates in a politically sensitive sector in which sales are generally dependent on government procurement decisions, export licences, strategic alliances and long-term maintenance commitments. Its customers and prospective customers have included European and NATO naval forces, Israel, Brazil, India, Australia and Canada. TKMS therefore competes not only on vessel design and price, but also on technology transfer, local industrial participation, sovereign support and the ability to sustain fleets over several decades. TKMS has remained wholly or principally connected to thyssenkrupp while the parent group has considered strategic alternatives for the naval business. Since 2024, thyssenkrupp has pursued a dual-track process that could involve a sale or spin-off. The German government has indicated that it may seek influence over any future ownership change because of the strategic importance of submarine and naval-ship capabilities. The company consequently occupies both a commercial and national-security role: it is a major industrial supplier, but its ownership, export activities and order book are closely connected to German and allied defence policy.
History
TKMS emerged from the consolidation of thyssenkrupp's naval activities around Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, which thyssenkrupp acquired in January 2005. The Kiel shipyard supplied the group with an established submarine and naval-ship engineering base. TKMS subsequently developed as a group of shipyards and specialist maritime-defence companies rather than as a single facility. Its broader composition has included HDW in Kiel, the Wismar shipyard, Atlas Elektronik in Bremen and shipbuilding interests outside Germany. The group's international expansion reflected the export-oriented character of the German naval industry. In July 2007, TKMS opened a branch office in Karachi, Pakistan; by early 2009, the operation was described in public reference material as one of Pakistan's larger private shipbuilding companies. TKMS also built partnerships and industrial arrangements intended to place production, maintenance and technology cooperation closer to customer countries. Submarine construction has remained the central thread of TKMS's history. The company and its predecessor businesses have been associated with internationally exported diesel-electric submarine families, including the Type 209, Type 212 and Type 214 lines. German and foreign naval customers have used these vessels for coastal defence, sea denial, intelligence and conventional deterrence missions. The Type 212A became especially important to the German and Italian navies, while the Type 214 family broadened the company's international export presence. Surface-ship activities have complemented the submarine business. TKMS has participated in the construction of German frigates and other naval vessels, including the F125 class. The group later expanded its Latin American industrial footprint through the acquisition of the Oceana shipyard in Brazil, which supported construction of the Brazilian Navy's Tamandaré-class frigates. In India, TKMS signed a 2023 memorandum of understanding with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders covering possible future naval cooperation. TKMS's business has also been affected by ownership and governance questions. In April 2023, thyssenkrupp sold its stake in Hellenic Shipyards to Greek shipowner George Prokopiou, reducing one element of the wider historical shipyard portfolio. From 2024, thyssenkrupp ran a dual-track process examining either a sale or a spin-off of TKMS. Carlyle and KfW discussed a possible acquisition of a majority stake, but Carlyle withdrew from the talks in October 2024. Because submarines and naval combat systems are viewed as strategically important German capabilities, the federal government sought protections over possible future ownership changes. The company continued to pursue cooperation-based growth. In 2021, TKMS won its largest reported order to that date: six Type 212CD submarines for Germany and Norway, developed with Kongsberg. In 2024, it joined with NVL in a frigate-focused joint venture aimed mainly at the F127 programme. TKMS has also competed for major overseas opportunities, including Australian frigates and a possible Canadian submarine fleet. These programmes illustrate the continuing importance of export markets, alliances and local industrial participation to the company's development.
- 2025
German ownership safeguards proposed
[1]The German government and thyssenkrupp reached a preliminary arrangement concerning approval and pre-emption rights over future TKMS share disposals.
- 2024
TKMS-NVL frigate joint venture
[1]TKMS and NVL created a joint venture focused primarily on the prospective F127 frigate programme.
- 2023
Hellenic Shipyards stake sold
[1]Thyssenkrupp sold its stake in Hellenic Shipyards to George Prokopiou.
- 2023
Indian cooperation memorandum
[1]TKMS and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders signed a memorandum of understanding on naval cooperation.
- 2021
Type 212CD order
[1]Germany and Norway ordered six Type 212CD submarines in a programme developed with Kongsberg.
- 2021
Brazilian shipyard acquisition
[1]Thyssenkrupp confirmed the acquisition of the Oceana shipyard in Itajaí, Brazil.
- 2017
Dakar-class submarine agreement with Israel
[1]Israel and TKMS signed an agreement for three Dakar-class submarines.
- 2009
Pakistan operation expands
[1]The Karachi operation had become one of Pakistan's larger private shipbuilding companies by January.
- 2007
Karachi branch opens
[1]TKMS opened a branch office in Karachi as part of its international expansion.
- 2005
Thyssenkrupp acquires Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
[1]The acquisition of HDW in January provided the foundation for the modern TKMS naval group.
Products and positioning
A high-end naval-defence supplier specializing in conventional submarines, complex surface combatants and integrated maritime systems for governments and allied fleets.
Conventional submarine
Type 209
A widely exported diesel-electric submarine family associated with the HDW and TKMS industrial heritage. Type 209 boats have been adapted for different customer requirements and missions, including coastal defence, surveillance and conventional anti-ship operations. The family helped establish the group's long-standing position in the international conventional-submarine market.
Conventional submarine
Type 212A
The Type 212A is a German-developed conventional submarine family built around low observability and advanced underwater endurance. Its design is associated with air-independent propulsion and operations in the Baltic and other constrained maritime environments. Germany and Italy have operated boats of this family, making it one of TKMS's best-known naval products.
Conventional submarine · 2021
Type 212CD
The Type 212CD is a newer common submarine design for Germany and Norway, developed with Kongsberg. The programme is intended to provide highly survivable conventional submarines with improved interoperability, modern sensors and combat-system integration. Its common design approach also seeks to create efficiencies in training, logistics and long-term fleet support.
Conventional submarine
Type 214
The Type 214 is an export-oriented diesel-electric submarine family derived from TKMS's German submarine design expertise. It combines submerged endurance with a configuration adaptable to different national combat systems and industrial arrangements. The type has been marketed to international navies and forms part of the group's long-running global submarine business.
Frigate
F125 frigate
The F125 is a German frigate class designed for extended deployments and maritime security missions. The programme illustrates TKMS's surface-combatant capabilities, including large-ship construction, mission-system integration and lifecycle support. The vessels complement the group's submarine portfolio with a focus on sustained naval presence and expeditionary operations.
Conventional submarine · 2017
Dakar-class submarine
The Dakar class is an Israeli submarine programme contracted from TKMS. Public reference material identifies the 2017 agreement as covering three boats. The programme forms part of Israel's long-term undersea capability and demonstrates TKMS's role as a supplier of strategically significant submarines to foreign navies.
Frigate
Tamandaré-class frigate programme
TKMS's Brazilian industrial activity includes participation in the Tamandaré-class frigate programme through its shipyard presence in Itajaí. The programme is important to the group's Latin American strategy because it combines naval design and construction with local shipyard capability and customer-country industrial participation.
Controversies
2017
Corruption allegations connected to Israeli submarine deal
Allegations surrounding the agreement for three Israeli Dakar-class submarines led to an Israeli governmental committee of inquiry and subsequent corruption prosecutions. The allegations concerned the circumstances around the deal; the existence of the investigation and prosecutions is documented in public reference material.
Brand decisions
2024
Pursue a sale-or-spin-off reviewStrategyBackground
Thyssenkrupp reviewed the future ownership structure of its naval-systems division while the German government emphasized the strategic importance of domestic naval capabilities.
Action taken
Thyssenkrupp ran a dual-track process examining a possible sale or spin-off of TKMS and held discussions with potential investors.
Aftermath
Carlyle later withdrew from negotiations, while the German government sought contractual protections over future ownership changes.
2024
Create a frigate joint venture with NVLStrategyBackground
Germany's future F127 frigate requirement created an opportunity for domestic shipbuilding cooperation.
Action taken
TKMS and NVL formed a joint venture intended primarily to build F127 frigates.
Aftermath
The partnership combined the companies' German surface-ship capabilities for a strategically important national programme.
2021
Proceed with the Type 212CD programmeProduct launchBackground
Germany and Norway sought a common next-generation conventional submarine design, while TKMS pursued a major bilateral programme with Kongsberg.
Action taken
TKMS and Kongsberg developed and contracted for six Type 212CD submarines for the two navies.
Aftermath
The programme became the largest order reported in TKMS's history at the time and strengthened its position in the European submarine market.
Reported order value. Approximately €5.5 billion (2021)
Recent events
- 2025
German government seeks safeguards over possible TKMS ownership change[1]
Regulation
The German government reached a preliminary understanding with thyssenkrupp concerning approval and pre-emption rights over certain future disposals of TKMS shares following a possible spin-off.
- 2025
TKMS loses Australian frigate competition[1]
Other
TKMS reportedly lost a major competition to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for new Royal Australian Navy frigates.
- 2025
TKMS becomes finalist for Canadian submarine programme[1]
Other
TKMS was reported as one of two finalists, alongside Hanwha Ocean, for a possible Canadian naval submarine procurement involving up to twelve boats.
- 2024
Thyssenkrupp considers sale or spin-off of TKMS[1]
M&A
Thyssenkrupp pursued a dual-track strategic review that could lead to a sale or spin-off of its naval-systems division. The German government signalled an interest in retaining influence over a strategically important business.
- 2024
Carlyle and KfW discuss potential TKMS acquisition[1]
M&A
Private-equity firm Carlyle and German development bank KfW entered negotiations concerning a possible majority investment in TKMS; Carlyle later withdrew from the discussions.
- 2024
TKMS and NVL establish frigate-building joint venture[1]
M&A
TKMS and German shipbuilder NVL formed a joint venture intended primarily to pursue construction of the German F127 frigate programme.
- 2023
TKMS and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders sign cooperation memorandum[1]
Other
TKMS and India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders entered a memorandum of understanding covering prospective naval cooperation, with the potential programme value reported in public reference material at approximately €7 billion.
- 2021
TKMS receives major Type 212CD submarine order for Germany and Norway[1]
Product launch · Other
TKMS, working with Kongsberg, received an order reported as the company's largest at the time for six Type 212CD submarines for the German and Norwegian navies.
- 2021
Thyssenkrupp expands into Brazil through Oceana shipyard acquisition[1]
M&A
Thyssenkrupp confirmed the acquisition of the Oceana shipyard in Itajaí, Brazil, providing TKMS with its first shipyard in Latin America and supporting the Brazilian Tamandaré-class frigate programme.
Sources2 sources
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