Latest situation regarding F126 and MEKO Frigate Projects in Germany

The current threat situation necessitates a rapid increase in anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the German Navy. However, the procurement of the intended F126 frigates is delayed, so work is simultaneously underway on a Plan B in the form of the potential acquisition of MEKO frigates. According to information obtained by Hartpunkt, only “partial successes” were achieved in both projects in the Bundestag.

Waldemar Geiger and Lars Hoffmann / Hartpunkt

The Dutch company Damen Naval, acting as prime contractor, was awarded the contract in June 2020 to build four units of the “Niedersachsen class” (F126). The contract stipulated that the first ship would be delivered to the German Navy in mid-2028. Four years later, a contractual option was exercised, and two further F126 frigates were ordered, scheduled to enter service in 2033 and 2034, primarily to enhance the German Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Currently, however, the project is facing significant challenges. After years of delays and repeated failures to meet key milestones—attributed to the prime contractor, Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding—the German Ministry of Defence has been seeking to change the prime contractor since last year, with NVL expected to assume the role. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing and are expected to continue until April 2026.

Due to the risk of the F126 project being cancelled or further delayed, the Germany Ministry of Defense is pursuing a parallel approach: the procurement of MEKO A-200 DEU class frigates from Germany’s largest naval shipbuilder, TKMS. The Ministry intends to conclude a preliminary agreement with TKMS so that the company can initiate all necessary measures to ensure production, as reported by hartpunkt . The Budget Committee of the Bundestag approved the €25 million proposal this week, releasing the necessary funds. The conclusion of the preliminary agreement is intended to guarantee that the first MEKO frigate will be delivered to the German Armed Forces in December 2029. In addition to TKMS as the main contractor, several subcontractors are also mentioned in the preliminary agreement, including Ostseestahl GmbH from Stralsund, RENK AG from Augsburg, Stahlbau Nord GmbH from Bremerhaven, and Noske-Kaeser from Hamburg. The funds are intended to ensure that production slots are reserved at the participating companies, materials and long-running parts are ordered, and the design plans are advanced. 

According to well-informed sources, the budget includes funds for up to eight MEKO A-200 frigates as an alternative to the six F126s. However, these eight ships could only be ordered if the F126 project is terminated. Observers assume, however, that fewer MEKO frigates might be ordered as a stopgap solution should the F126 project be pursued, but this could lead to further delays.

According to reports, the budget experts of the governing coalition intended to introduce and pass a directive during yesterday’s meeting, in addition to approving the €25 million proposal for the MEKO preliminary contract. Observers believe this directive would have significantly pressed the Ministry of Defense more strongly towards the MEKO procurement process. However, well-informed sources have told hartpunkt that the direct intervention of the Minister of Defense alone prevented the directive from being introduced.

The situation makes it clear that the Ministry of Defense intends to adhere to its plans to procure the F126 class frigates, which are considered more capable than the MEKO class. Even the preparation of a preliminary contract required the Ministry to comply with a directive passed on December 20th, as reported by hartpunkt. Politicians responsible for naval armaments, both from the governing parties and the opposition, have for some time expressed doubts about the F126 project, which is already several years behind schedule. At the same time, they emphasize that equipping the Navy with anti-submarine warfare capabilities is a very high priority and must not be delayed any further.

“So far, no one from the government has been able to give me a reliable new delivery year for the F126. But it’s not difficult to put two and two together. Due to the massive problems with data transmission, the planned change of general contractor, and the necessary renegotiation of existing contracts, valuable time has been lost for months. Costs will also increase as a result. Therefore, I don’t understand why Minister Pistorius is still keeping all options open,” Robin Wagener, Navy rapporteur for the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group in the Defense Committee, told Hartpunkt.

At least the problem with the transfer of design data may now be resolved. In a statement released yesterday by NVL, the shipyard announced that it is working intensively to take over the F126 project as general contractor within a few weeks. According to the statement, they have succeeded in “untying the Gordian knot” and successfully transferring the design data from the Dutch Damen shipyard into their own system. “This has closed the interface between design and manufacturing, and together with Damen, paved the way for an accelerated ramp-up of production in the shipyard halls,” the company wrote.

Whether the design data in question represents the final construction drawings or whether further design work will be necessary is currently unclear and must be verified by NVL. “In recent weeks, we have tested and successfully implemented the migration of the design data into our system. This was the most critical milestone and the essential prerequisite for ramping up production. Currently, terabytes of data are being transferred and simultaneously checked for completeness and accuracy,” NVL explained in response to an inquiry from Hartpunkt.

Bastian Ernst, a member of the Defense Committee and the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s rapporteur for the Navy, who has advocated for the swift procurement of an alternative platform in recent months, acknowledges the data transfer as a partial success. “The successful transfer of the existing design documents to NVL is a clearly positive signal and underscores NVL’s high level of expertise. At the same time, this progress confirms that changing the general contractor was the right decision,” Ernst commented to Hartpunkt. However, he notes that the updated schedule and cost plan for the F126 project will only become clear in the coming weeks. “Initiating the MEKO planning in parallel increases flexibility and reduces the overall risk. However, it remains unclear why these steps were initiated so late by the Ministry and why two more frigates were commissioned in 2024,” Ernst added.

Wagener also continues to harbor doubts that the time and cost constraints can be met. The Green Party politician fears further cost increases due to the delays, which will ultimately result in higher expenditures or a reduction in the order quantity. “We bear responsibility for the enormous sums we have to invest in the urgently needed modernization. I therefore expect Minister Pistorius to finally provide more clarity and stop obstructing the most viable solution. Given the serious threat situation, we already have no more time. Credible defense policy is not born of hesitation, but of courage,” Wagener warns.

This article by Waldemar Geiger and Lars Hoffman was originally published in German language at Hartpunkt.de. It has been translated and republished with authorization.

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