L3Harris Wins TKMS Submarine Mast Contracts
L3Harris will supply mast-raising equipment and electronic control units for Type 212CD submarines being built for Germany and Norway.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Military
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ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has awarded L3Harris two multimillion-dollar contracts to design and build submarine mast-raising equipment and electronic control units. L3Harris announced the contracts in a media release that did not disclose the dollar values, order quantities or delivery schedule.
Why it matters
The contracts supply key components for submarines bought by Germany and Norway amid heightened security concerns in Europe linked to Russia. Mast-raising equipment and control systems are central to how submarines operate sensors and communications while submerged.
The announcement is a company media release, and it omits contract values, system quantities and timing. Six Type 212CD submarines were initially ordered, but none had been completed as of November 2026, and the schedule for the work remains unclear.
The players
L3Harris
A U.S. defense technology company that supplies electronic systems and sensors to naval and military customers worldwide.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
A German naval shipbuilder that designs and builds submarines, including the Type 212CD class for European navies.
The details
L3Harris will design and build the mast-raising equipment, which lets a submarine deploy and retract sensors and communications gear while underwater, along with the electronic control units that manage mast movement and integrate with the vessel's wider systems. The Type 212CD, roughly 240 feet long and displacing about 2,500 metric tons on the surface, is being sold to the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Deutsche Marine.
Timeline
November 2026: L3Harris announced the TKMS contracts in a media release.
Early 2030s: Type 212CD submarines are expected to enter service with the German and Norwegian navies.
Program Lineage
The Type 212CD extends the established Type 212 submarine lineage, a German design already in service with European navies. These new L3Harris contracts add to that program's supplier base as Germany and Norway expand their submarine fleets.
The contracts signal that European navies are moving forward with submarine programs even as delivery dates slip into the next decade. For readers following European defense procurement, the award shows how major systems are split among specialized suppliers rather than produced by a single firm.
The takeaway
Major defense programs depend on many specialized suppliers, and contract announcements often leave out the values and schedules that determine real impact. Watching later procurement records is the best way to track when these submarines will actually enter service.
Further reading
For more on the naval forces ordering these vessels, see the Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The National Interest.
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