German Naval Yards Kiel & TKMS Team Up for MKS 180 program.

On August 3rd, 2018, GERMAN NAVAL YARDS KIEL (GNYK) signed an agreement with thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Marine Systems as subcontractor of GNYK, will contribute to the development and construction of the multi-purpose combat vessel MKS 180. GNYK is the only remaining German main contractor in the EU-wide tender of the German Navy. Incorporating thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ teams into the MKS program will further increase the German share in the MKS proposal.

Artist impression of what MKS 180 could look like (for illustration purpose only)

GNYK is integrating the best available naval competences worldwide into its MKS 180 offer. The selected Marine Systems specialists will focus on the coordination and integration of combat systems and the intensive usability of naval vessels.

"Our offer for the MKS 180 program becomes even stronger with the input of the two engineering houses Alion and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems,” said GNYK Managing Director Jörg Herwig. “Our combined skills and expertise are enabling us to address the needs of our customer and to serve the quality of execution in the best possible way. We are very happy to welcome thyssenkrupp’s engineers into our team with whom we have already successfully collaborated in the past,” Herwig added.

GNYK had previously contracted the US Navy supplier Alion for contributing cutting-edge engineering technology of the world’s strongest navy to its MKS 180 offer. The engineering house adds unmatched experience and references, having developed successful designs of similar programs for the US Navy.

The entire development and engineering of the vessels will take place in Germany. Further, the intellectual property rights and know-how related to the MKS 180 program will also remain in the country.

Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems: “We are bringing our decades of experience and expertise in naval shipbuilding to this partnership. We will strengthen the German Naval Yards bid in particular through the know-how of our engineers in integrating on-board systems of all kinds and their experience with the intensive use concept, a key requirement for the MKS 180 frigates. Our joint bid will secure the preservation of naval surface shipbuilding as a key technology for Germany. The awarding of the contract to German Naval Yards would secure jobs not only at our company but also to a significant degree at other German suppliers.”

In a next step it is expected that the German defense procurement agency BAAINBw will send the remaining bidders in the MKS 180 award procedure a precise specification for the naval vessels and request a best and final offer (BAFO). On this basis thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and German Naval Yards Kiel will work together to submit a convincing best and final offer. A final decision in the award procedure is not expected before 2019.