Exasperated by the delayed F126 frigate programme, Germany has announced plans to purchase four MEKO A-200 frigates as an interim solution.
The Bundeswehr underlined the “paramount importance” of maintaining an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability as its existing fleet – comprising four Type 123 Brandenberg-class vessels – is now exceeding 30 years of service.
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While the specialised F126 frigates are intended to succeed the ageing fleet, these six modern units, the first of which was meant to arrive in 2028, are now “foreseeably delayed.”
MEKO is ‘commercially available’
As an interim solution, Germany will procure the “commercially available” A-200, a proven off-the-shelf design already in active production. Currently, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ (TKMS) is building these multipurpose frigates at shipyards in Kiel and Bremerhaven, where the contractor constructed the first three of Egypt’s Al Aziz-class ships since 2022.
In parallel, the Bundeswehr will replace the original Dutch supplier Damen Naval and begin to negotiate with Rheinmetall’s naval division, Naval Vessels Lürssen(NVL), as the primary contractor for the F126 programme.
Damen has not yet completed construction on any F126 frigate, but the shipbuilder has initiated the construction of the first ship, having laid the keel on 3 June 2024. Damen has struggled to overcome enduring IT and software integration issues with the F126 programme.
Looking ahead
Germany’s A-200 delivery, which will begin at the end of 2029, will also ensure the timely fulfillment of Nato targets for submarine hunting. According to the Nato Readiness Initiative agreed upon in 2018, members must collectively maintain at least 30 naval combatants (mostly ASW) at 30 day’s readiness or less.
The Budget Committee approved a first amendment to the preliminary contract on 18 March 2026, extending the agreement concluded on 28 January.
Necessary intermediate steps, such as issuing tenders, evaluating bids, reviewing prices, formally drafting the contract, and preparing for parliamentary review, will now be implemented carefully and as quickly as possible.
