Dutch government to decide on the purchase of four French submarines

This undated handout aerial picture released on October 20, 2020 by French shipbuilder Naval Group shows new French navy nuclear attack submarine Suffren, a Barracuda class, during tests at sea. © Naval Group / AFP

The Dutch government will decide Friday if it will buy four French-made submarines from the Paris-based Naval Group after deliberations lasting nine years.

Dutch media outlet RTL Nieuws, quoting "informed sources" reported that France's Naval Group is likely to be the one to replace the thirty-year old Walrus class fleet of Dutch subs, beating rivals Saab from Sweden and Germany's Thyssen-Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS.)