Germany scraps F126 frigate program, pivots to MEKO warships amid cost and contractor chaos
The switch follows years of delays and cost overruns, and the new plan would cost about 11.6 billion euros for eight ships, officials said.
- On Wednesday, the German Defence Ministry announced the cancellation of the six-ship F126 frigate programme, citing significant delays and cost risks. Berlin will instead seek Bundestag approval to procure eight smaller MEKO A-200 frigates from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
- Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated that continuing the F126 project would have pushed costs above €18 billion, prompting termination of the contract with Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, which had already absorbed more than €2 billion.
- Following the announcement, Rheinmetall shares fell approximately 17% on Wednesday, marking their largest intra-day decline in over a year, while TKMS stock rose about 10% as investors reacted to the procurement shift.
- Legal reviews regarding potential damage claims against Damen remain ongoing, while the ministry prioritizes securing Bundestag approval quickly. These MEKO frigates are intended to bolster anti-submarine warfare capabilities and satisfy critical NATO commitments by 2029.
- Germany's military modernization faces complex procurement challenges that have repeatedly delayed rearmament goals. This strategic pivot to the MEKO A-200 class positions the navy to maintain readiness in the North Sea amid broader European security concerns.
104 Articles
104 Articles
Six years after Germany placed an order with Dutch Damen, the government has pulled the plug.
Failed Warship Project of the Bundeswehr - "This Will Be Much More Expensive than Two Billion Euros"
By stopping the frigate project, billions were put in the sand. Defence expert Ralph Thiele explains why Germany is failing in procurement, its military capability is barely attainable by 2029 and we are subject to a huge error in relation to Russia.
Germany on Wednesday cancelled a 12.8 billion euro order for six warships because of delays at the Dutch shipyard building them, and said it would buy eight smaller ships instead.
Germany is canceling an order for six F126-class frigates and will instead purchase eight smaller warships.
US ally eyes proven 3,950-ton MEKO warships for anti-submarine warfare
Germany has decided to acquire eight MEKO A-200 warships from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), in place of six vessels under the F126 frigate program. The decision to cancel the troubled F126 frigate program was taken due to “significant delays, enormous cost increases, and incalculable risks.” The vessels were being made to carry out anti-submarine warfare duties, which is of paramount importance to Germany and NATO. However, delays in deliv…
Why did Germany decide to stop investing in the most powerful ships of the century? The German government has officially abandoned its ambitious plan to build six F126 frigates. This project was to be the largest for the country's navy since World War II, according to RBC-Ukraine, citing the Financial Times. Shares of defense giant Rheinmetall, which was supposed to fulfill military orders, fell by 12%. The company had hoped to become the prime …
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