German naval shipbuilder TKMS and Spanish state-owned defence company Navantia have taken another step in strengthening their strategic partnership by signing a second Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding cooperation in the submarine sector. The agreement reflects both companies’ ambition to establish a joint collaboration framework for selected future submarine projects, reinforcing Europe’s naval industrial capabilities while responding to growing international demand for advanced underwater platforms.

The new memorandum builds on an earlier agreement between the two companies and follows months of discussions focused on identifying areas where their respective expertise can be combined. By working together, TKMS and Navantia aim to increase industrial capacity, improve production efficiency and enhance delivery performance for customers seeking modern submarine capabilities. The proposed collaboration is also intended to support technological innovation and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of both companies in international markets.

The companies emphasized that the planned partnership is limited to future business opportunities and does not involve a merger, acquisition or exchange of ownership. Existing contracts, customer programmes and ongoing projects will continue to be managed independently, with both companies retaining full responsibility for their current commitments. The cooperation is designed to complement, rather than replace, each company’s existing operations while creating additional value through selective industrial collaboration.

According to the companies, customers are expected to benefit from access to a broader industrial base, greater manufacturing flexibility and enhanced technological capabilities. By combining complementary strengths, the partnership aims to improve production capacity and provide more resilient supply chains at a time when demand for advanced naval platforms continues to increase worldwide. Any future cooperation will be tailored to individual customer requirements and implemented only with the necessary approvals, while remaining fully compliant with competition law, export-control regulations and other applicable legal frameworks.

The agreement also reflects broader efforts across Europe to strengthen the continent’s defence industrial base and reduce dependence on external suppliers. By joining forces on selected submarine programmes, TKMS and Navantia say they intend to contribute to greater European strategic autonomy while improving the ability of European industry to deliver advanced submarine solutions for allied and partner navies. The companies believe that expanding industrial cooperation will help address growing geopolitical challenges by increasing production capacity and supporting more efficient delivery of defence equipment.

TKMS Chief Executive Officer Oliver Burkhard said the partnership represents an important step toward reinforcing Europe’s industrial resilience while preserving the technological leadership, design authority and quality standards that define the company. He noted that combining complementary industrial strengths would strengthen both Europe’s defence industrial base and its strategic sovereignty.

TKMS Chief Operating Officer Andreas Görgen described the memorandum as evidence of the progress achieved through discussions between the two companies. He said the planned collaboration would expand opportunities for both businesses while providing customers with greater industrial capacity, technological excellence and improved delivery performance, without affecting existing programmes or customer commitments.

Navantia Executive Chairman Ricardo Domínguez said the agreement demonstrates concrete progress toward building a stronger and more scalable European defence industrial base capable of meeting sustained global demand for submarine design, construction and support. Navantia Chief Operating Officer Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero added that the partnership is intended to enhance competitiveness while ensuring that each company retains ownership of its technologies and maintains design authority over its respective programmes.

Subject to the completion of all necessary regulatory approvals, the companies intend to establish their joint collaboration framework before the end of the year, creating a platform for future submarine projects while maintaining their independence and strengthening Europe’s position in the global naval defence market.