Shipyards Directory

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH

naval shipbuilder Hamburg, Germany

TKMS (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems) is a German naval defence group that describes itself as the only system house in Europe uniting all maritime industry capabilities under one roof. It designs and builds conventional (non-nuclear) submarines such as the HDW Class 209, 214 and 212CD, naval surface vessels based on the MEKO design principle, and unmanned systems, along with sonar, sensors, effectors, communications and maritime command systems through its ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, HMK, MARIDAN and ATLAS UK units. The group also provides full lifecycle support and, via its NXTGEN civilian arm, products such as uncrewed underwater vehicles, ordnance disposal platforms and offshore converter platforms. TKMS states it works with over 50 navies worldwide and operates from sites across Germany and subsidiaries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH (TKMS)

TKMS positions itself as a "Maritime Powerhouse" and a fully integrated system house for maritime defence technology, drawing on more than 185 years of naval engineering heritage. Its business is organised into three segments — SUBMARINES, SURFACE VESSELS and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK — complemented by the civilian NXTGEN sector. The company reports an order backlog of approximately EUR 20.6 billion as of March 2026 and cooperation with over 50 navies worldwide. TKMS operates as TKMS AG & Co. KGaA, with TKMS Management AG as general partner, wholly owned by thyssenkrupp AG.

Services

  • Design and construction of conventional (non-nuclear) submarines
  • Naval surface vessel design and construction using the MEKO design principle
  • Full lifecycle support and services for surface vessels and submarines from a single source
  • Sonar, hydroacoustics, sensors and maritime awareness systems
  • Command and control, tactical data links and networked operations systems
  • Integrated Communication Systems (ICS) for naval vessels, submarines and land-based use, VLF/HF to SHF (TKMS HMK, over 590 systems deployed)
  • Torpedoes, anti-torpedo torpedoes and mine disposal systems
  • AUV operations, UXO surveys and seismic services for offshore site investigation (TKMS MARIDAN)
  • Offshore converter platforms and ordnance disposal platforms (NXTGEN)

Vessel Types and Platforms

  • HDW Class 209 submarine — approx. 63 m length, 1,590 t surface displacement, 12.6 m height incl. sail
  • HDW Class 214 submarine — approx. 71 m length, 2,000 t surface displacement, 13 m height incl. sail; air-independent propulsion
  • HDW Class 212CD (Common Design) submarine — developed with Norway, diamond-shaped hull, diesel and hydrogen fuel cell AIP
  • Naval surface vessels for coastal to worldwide operations
  • Uncrewed underwater vehicles, AUVs, ROTVs and nearshore survey vessels

Facilities

  • In-house test and integration facilities at Winfrith, Dorset (TKMS ATLAS UK)
  • Technology portfolio including synthetic aperture sonar and seismic systems (MARIDAN)

Location

  • German sites include Koblenz, Berlin, Wedel, Wilhelmshaven, Bremen, Flintbek, Wismar and Buchholz
  • International entities in Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, India, Australia, Canada, the USA (Yorktown, VA), Brazil (Itajaí) and Israel