TKMS AG & Co. KGaA (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems) is a group and holding company of providers of naval vessels, surface ships and submarines. It was founded when large industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp acquired Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in January 2005.
Composition The group consists of:
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, Germany TKMS Wismar in Wismar, Germany Atlas Elektronik in Bremen, Germany Estaleiro Brasil Sul in Itajaí, Brazil
As of August 30, 2006, the group represented a sales volume of around €2.2 billion and had a workforce of 8,400 people.
On the 12th of April 2023, ThyssenKrupp sold its stake on Hellenic Shipyards to George Prokopiou.
History The corporation opened a branch office in Karachi, Pakistan on 25 July 2007. By January 2009, it had become one of the biggest private shipbuilding companies in Pakistan.
In 2017 the Israeli government and TKMS signed a deal for three Dakar-class submarines. Allegations of corruption surrounding the deal have led to the formation of an Israeli governmental committee of inquiry and subsequent prosecution for corruption.
In 2021, TKMS received the biggest order in its history, worth €5.5 billion for six identical Type 212CD submarines (in partnership with Kongsberg Gruppen) for the German and Norwegian navies.Sabine Siebold (23 June 2021), Germany backs 2.7 bln euro contract to buy two Thyssenkrupp submarines - source Reuters.Laura Pitel, Patricia Nilsson and Alexandra Heal (25 October 2025), Carlyle drops bid for Thyssenkrupp defence unit over Berlin indecision Financial Times. In January 2021, ThyssenKrupp confirmed the acquisition of the Oceana shipyard in Itajaí, Brazil, becoming the company's first shipyard in Latin America, with the objective of building the new Brazilian Tamandaré-class frigates.
In 2023, TKMS signed a memorandum of understanding with India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, with the value of the agreement expected to be about 7 billion euros.Alexander Ratz and Christoph Steitz (6 June 2023), Thyssenkrupp could bid to supply six submarines to Indian Navy Reuters.Christoph Steitz (6 June 2023), Thyssenkrupp, India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders sign submarine MoU Reuters.
Also in 2023, the German government signalled that it was prepared to back a sale of TKMS by taking a supporting minority stake. Since 2024, ThyssenKrupp has been running a dual-track process for TKMS, which could result in either a sale or spin-off of the division. In June 2024, private equity firm Carlyle and German development bank KfW entered into negotiations to jointly acquire a majority stake in TKMS.Christoph Steitz, Emma-Victoria Farr and Tom Käckenhoff (14 June 2024), Carlyle, KfW join forces in effort to buy Thyssenkrupp warship division, sources say Reuters. By October 2024, Carlyle abandoned the negotiations.Matthias Inverardi, Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz (23 October 2024), Luerssen, Rheinmetall among potential suitors for Thyssenkrupp marine unit, sources say Reuters.
In 2024, TKMS and German peer NVL formed a joint venture to primarily build F127 frigates.Matthias Inverardi and Christoph Steitz (9 August 2024), Thyssenkrupp marine unit, NVL to form frigate joint venture, says German cartel office Reuters.
In July 2025, the German government reached a preliminary agreement with ThyssenKrupp on getting a right of approval if a stake of 25% or more were to be sold in TKMS following a spin-off; in addition, the government would have a pre-emptive right if ThyssenKrupp were to sell a stake of 5% or more to a third party.Markus Wacket and Christoph Steitz (11 July 2025), Berlin secures influence at warship builder TKMS as part of planned spin-off Reuters.
In August 2025, TKMS lost out against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on a landmark $6.5 billion deal to supply the Royal Australian Navy with new frigates.Kirsty Needham, Tim Kelly and Alasdair Pal (5 August 2025), Japan clinches landmark $6.5 billion warship deal with Australia to counter China Reuters. That same month, it became one of the two finalists, along with Hanwha Ocean, under consideration for a contract to deliver up to twelve submarines to the Royal Canadian Navy.Riham Alkousaa and Sarah Marsh (26 August 2025), Thyssenkrupp defence unit short-listed in Canadian submarine deal, PM says in Berlin Reuters. In July 2026, it was selected as the preferred supplier for the Canadian contract. In July 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney selected TKMS over South Korea's Hanwha Ocean for the country's multi-billion dollar submarine fleet construction contract.
In January 2026, TKMS submitted a non-binding bid for smaller competitor German Naval Yards (GNYK).Tom Kaeckenhoff and Christoph Steitz (8 January 2026), TKMS submits non-binding bid for German shipyard GNYK Reuters.
Military ships and submarines sales and production
Ships
Confirmed sales Design base Class Type of ships Shipyard Order / in production Client Notes MEKO 200 Al-Aziz class Multipurpose light frigateAlexandria Shipyard, in Egypt (produced under licence) 1 (3 out of 4 delivered) The three first frigates of this class were constructed at the , in Bremerhaven (Germany), and the fitting out took place at the HDW shipyard in Kiel (Germany). The three ships were delivered. The fourth ship is made under licence in Egypt, and the fitting out is ongoing. MEKO A-100 Multipurpose light frigate TKMS Estaleiro Brasil Sul shipyard, in Itajaí (Brazil) (former Oceana Shipyard) 3 (1 out of 4 delivered) 4 ordered in , production in a TKMS shipyard in Itajaí (Brazil). AOR vessel Auxiliary Oil ReplenishmentSeaspan Shipyards, in Vancouver (Canada) (produced under licence) 1 1 already delivered, a second in production. The ships are part of the JSS project.Total 5
Likely sales Design base Class Type of ships Shipyard Likely sales Client Notes MEKO A-400 AMD F127-class frigateGuided-missile frigate (air defence) – 8 Eight frigates are planned to be purchased by the German Navy. MEKO 200 F128 - MEKO A-200 DEU-class frigate Frigate ASWAnti-submarine warfare – 4 Four frigates approved for order in July 2026 following the cancellation of the F126 . MEKO A100 Multipurpose light frigate TKMS Estaleiro Brasil Sul shipyard, in Itajaí (Brazil) (former Oceana Shipyard) 4 Four additional planned to be purchased as of . Total 16 Submarines
Confirmed sales Design base Class Type of ships Shipyard Order / in production Client Notes – Cruise-missile and attack submarine TKMS shipyard in Kiel (Germany) 3 The submarines were ordered in , and the production started in . It is equipped with VLS, and is likely designed to launch nuclear cruise missiles.Type 212Type 212CD-class submarineAttack submarineTKMS shipyard in Kiel (Germany) TKMS Wismar shipyard in the future (former MV Werften shipyard)6Common orders and contract from Norway and Germany. German orders:
2 ordered in . 4 ordered in .
Norwegian orders:
4 ordered in . 2 ordered in . 6 Type 214 Attack submarine Gölcük Naval Shipyard, in Gölcük (Turkey) (produced under licence, with packages supplied by TKMS / HDW) 4 (2 out of 6 delivered) The contract for 6 submarines was signed in . The second submarine was handed over in . Type 218 Attack submarine TKMS shipyard in Kiel (Germany) 3 (3 out of 6 delivered) Orders:
4 ordered in , three delivered, the fourth is ongoing sea trial. 2 ordered in . Total 22
Likely sales Class Subclass Type of ships Shipyard Likely sales Client NotesType 212Type 212CD-class submarineAttack submarine–12Announced as preferred supplier ahead of Hanwha Ocean, negotiations in progress; delivery expected from 2034. Type 214 Project P-75I - phase 2 Attack submarine MDSL shipyard in Mumbai (India) (to be produced under licence / tech transfer) 6 Class selected in , as part of the Project P-75I, likely to be produced under licence in India. Total 18
Planned replacements Ongoing bids and potential sales in new submarine purchase programmes. Class Subclass Type of ships Potential sales Client Notes Type 209 Type 209NG-class submarine Attack submarine 3 In competition with Naval Group to supply submarines to Argentina. Type 209 Type 209NG-class submarine Attack submarine 4 The Egyptian Navy is looking to replace its Romeo-class submarines, and the Type 209 is among the likely competitors. Type 209 Type 209NG-class submarine Attack submarine 4 The Hellenic Navy is planning to procure 4 submarines, and one of the German models will be offered. They will replace the Glafkos-class submarine (Type 209/1100) and Poseidon-class submarine (Type 209/1200). Type 212 Type 212CD-class submarine U212NFS-class submarine Type 218 – Type 212 Type 212CD-class submarine Attack submarine 3 According to the Zielbild Marine 2035+ plan, the German will operate from 6 to 9 Type 212CD-class submarine, therefore up to 3 additional vessels could be ordered.. Type 212 U212NFS class Attack submarine 2 The U212NFS is made in partnership with Fincantieri. – – Attack submarine 2 Two planned to be procured between 2031 and 2035, no supplier selected yet. – Dolphin II-class submarine Attack submarine 3 In 2025, Morocco expressed an interest to purchase 3 submarines. Type 209 Type 209-1400 class Up to 33
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