Germany is planning to acquire four MEKO frigates from domestic shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to provide an interim anti-submarine warfare capability, as delays continue to affect the F126 frigate program.
Officials in Berlin described the draft agreement—approved by lawmakers on Wednesday—as a “bridging measure” to ensure the navy receives much-needed submarine-hunting vessels starting in late 2029, helping it meet its NATO obligations.
The move follows growing uncertainty around the six F126 frigates (formerly known as MKS-180) that Germany ordered in 2020 from Dutch shipbuilder Damen in a deal valued at up to $10 billion. The original contract sparked debate within Germany, with critics arguing that such a critical capability should not be outsourced, even to a close ally like the Netherlands. Damen had committed to building the ships in Germany, with about 70% of the contract work allocated to local suppliers.
Construction on the first of the 10,550-ton frigates began in December 2023, marked by the initial steel cutting at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast. This was followed by a keel-laying ceremony in June 2024 attended by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Germany’s defense ministry emphasized that the planned procurement of four MEKO A-200 DEU vessels does not signal the end of the F126 program. Authorities are currently in talks with Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) to potentially take over as the project’s main contractor. NVL, recently acquired by Rheinmetall, describes itself as a privately owned group of well-established northern German shipyards and associated companies.
Damen has indicated it is open to a German-led approach, though it aims to remain a key partner in the program, as noted in its October 2025 annual results statement.
