Long-term partnership - more than procurement

In 2021 a procurement contract on the delivery of six submarines manufactured by Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems was concluded by Germany and Norway under the project name “U212 CDCommon Design.” The abbreviation “CDCommon Design” is short for the “Common Design” of the submarines of the two nations.

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On 18 March 2024, the Director of the Norwegian procurement agency (Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, NDMA) took up an invitation by the Director-General of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBwBundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) in Koblenz. The reason for the visit was the further course of action for the joint project.

The German-Norwegian project is currently in its critical design review phase. This phase includes the ultimate planning control and review, i.e. a milestone in such a project.

German-Norwegian procurement alliance

During their meeting both directors agreed on streamlining the project organization to optimize management and cooperation within the project. In addition to a performance-oriented delivery of the submarines in due time, the focus is on developing and maintaining openness, trust and transparency based on a strong partnership.

The Director-General of BAAINBwBundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr, Annette Lehnigk-Emden, thanked her Norwegian guest and remarked that: “It is the first project of this scale for both procurement agencies for which the way, not only for the procurement, but also for the joint life cycle management had to be paved.”

Part pf the project is, for example, that the maintenance and repair of the submarines of both nations will be conducted at a Norwegian maintenance shipyard in Bergen. This also has financial advantages: Not only does such a long-term cooperation minimize procurement costs, the costs for spare parts are also reduced by pooling requirements.

For the continuation of the project in the future the Director-General of BAAINBwBundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr whished all parties involved “success in further pursuing this common path, which we will observe closely.”

Cooperation in other areas

Germany and Norway already are cooperating in several procurement projects and take advantage of the synergy effects, as for instance, cost advantages due to larger quantities to be procured within projects.

The close cooperation of both nations also helped to successfully push forward a project on the procurement of anti-ship guided missiles (Naval Strike Missiles, NSM): The planned delivery of these missiles to the German Navy in 2026 is on schedule.