Germany nixes multi-billion-dollar F126 frigate program, opts for MEKOs instead

The F126 frigate design is currently in the works for Germany's navy. (Damen Group)

WASHINGTON — Germany announced today it is axing plans to build six F126 frigates after suffering delays with the program and expected cost increases stemming from a potential change in contractors.

Instead, the defense ministry said it wants to purchase eight MEKO frigates to conduct anti-submarine warfare and satisfy NATO requirements, according to a translation of its statement.

Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) originally secured a roughly €10 billion ($11.4 billion) contract in 2020 to build six F126 frigates, and was supposed to deliver the initial vessel with an initial capability in 2028. All the vessels were slated for delivery to the German Navy by 2033, the ministry said.

However, the ministry said DSNS disclosed that it had encountered major delays, and that constructing the ships within those dates and budget wasn’t viable. While the ministry evaluated changing contractors to Naval Vessels Lürssen B.V. & Co. KG (NVL) last year, a review found that the switch wouldn’t be cheap. Specifically, shifting to NVL would have cost more than €18 billion for the six frigates, after factoring in services provided under the DSNS contract.

Likewise, Germany’s government would have had to waive possible damage claims against DSNS if it switched contractors, and the ministry didn’t believe that was using budget funds responsibly. Meanwhile, a legal review is underway into these claims, according to the ministry.

All these factors prompted the ministry to cancel the F126 program, and instead seek to purchase eight MEKO A-200 DEU frigates built by German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), pending approval from the budget committee. The MEKU A-200 is 121 meters (nearly 400 feet) long, displaces just under 4,000 tones and can travel over 29 knots (33.4 mph), according to TKMS.

Berlin’s Inspector of the Navy conducted a review and concluded that these frigates met both German Navy and NATO requirements. Purchasing the first four MEKO frigates would cost roughly €6.3 billion, with the option to purchase another four for roughly €5.3 billion by the end of this year.