The German Defence Ministry announced that it will allocate large amounts of funding to improve Germany’s anti‑submarine warfare (ASW) capability. Because the delivery of the specialised F‑126 frigates is expected to be delayed, the ministry is concurrently pursuing the acquisition of four MEKO A‑200 frigates as a “bridge solution”.
The proposed delivery of these MEKO ships from the end of 2029 will also help Germany meet NATO’s ASW requirements in a timely fashion. The dual‑track strategy-procurement of both the F‑126 and the MEKO frigates-is described by the ministry as a safety‑and‑risk measure that does “not prejudice the continuation of the F‑126 programme”.
On Wednesday the Budget Committee approved an amendment contract that extends the pre‑contract signed on 28 January. The extension allows the manufacturer to reserve production capacity with subcontractors and suppliers and to place orders for material, plants, and equipment.
The ministry said the pre‑contract renewal is necessary because the preparations for a final construction contract are still incomplete. The next steps-issuing a call for bids, evaluating proposals, conducting price checks, formally drafting the contract, and preparing parliamentary oversight-will be carried out carefully and as swiftly as possible.
Construction of the F‑126 class has been significantly delayed by the Dutch general contractor. The government is now negotiating with NVL as a possible new general contractor for the project. Against this backdrop, the “market‑available” MEKO A‑200 DEU frigates were identified as a bridge solution and complement. Industry representatives have already indicated that the first ship of this class could be delivered by December 2029. MEKO‑family ships are in service with many navies worldwide.
