Establishment of the new joint venture company, kta Naval Systems. Credit: Kongsberg Gruppen.

Norwegian company Kongsberg and Germany-based ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems have established a new joint venture (JV) firm known as kta Naval Systems.

The newly-formed company is set to develop, manufacture and maintain combat systems as an exclusive supplier for thyssenkrupp submarines.

kta Naval Systems will be operated through Kongsberg’s headquarters in Norway and a branch office in Bremen, Germany.

Kongsberg will possess 50% stake in the new company, while the remaining half is set to be owned by thyssenkrupp and its subsidiary Atlas Elektronik.

Kongsberg noted that the combat systems will allow the submarine crew to fully perceive their surroundings, recognise objects and evaluate situations in detail.

In addition, the systems help consolidate all necessary information to enable a rapid and reliable response.

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems CEO Dr Rolf Wirtz said: “This is the starting point for a broader cooperation between European states in the procurement of submarines.

“With the new JV and following our acquisition of Atlas Elektronik, we are now in the unique position to offer the full range of services for conventional submarines, including design, development, manufacture and now also the centrepiece: the combat systems.”

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace president Eirik Lie added: “Together, we will deliver the next-generation of combat systems and put a smart defence in Europe into action.”

thyssenkrupp previously completed the acquisition of Atlas Elektronik in April.

“With the new JV and following our acquisition of Atlas Elektronik, we are now in the unique position to offer the full range of services for conventional submarines.”

The German and Norwegian governments also signed a government-to-government agreement for the joint development, procurement, operation and maintenance of submarines and marine ordnance in June.

The new JV has been established to supply the combat systems under a joint procurement programme between the German and Norwegian navies for the new 212CD-class submarines, as well as future thyssenkrupp models.

In addition, the collaboration between the two nations’ navies is expected to help reduce maintenance and training, in addition to logistical efforts.

The new submarines are set to be based on the 212A-class vessels and have been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the two navies.