German Navy Frigate Project Faces Scrutiny Amid Significant Delays
BERLIN – GermanyS Ministry of Defense is re-evaluating the future of its F126 frigate program following “massive delays” in the multi-billion euro armaments project,a ministry spokesperson confirmed. The delays are expected to be “in the annual area,” impacting the delivery timeline for the six planned frigates intended to bolster Germany’s naval capabilities.
The project, estimated to cost up to ten billion euros, centers around the construction of six modern F126 frigates designed for “three-dimensional nautical demonstration” – the ability to combat threats underwater, on the surface, and in the air.Construction of the frist frigate began in December 2023, with an original handover date slated for 2028.
The Dutch firm Schelde Naval Shipbuilding BV, the primary contractor, cited issues with IT interfaces within its construction and manufacturing software as the cause for the delays. The Netherlands government provided the company with €270 million in aid, though conditions attached to the funding remain unclear.
The Ministry of Defense is now considering two potential paths forward: transferring project leadership to a German general contractor, or procuring a market-available alternative frigate model. Reports indicate Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL), the marine division of the Lürssen Group, potentially to be acquired by Rheinmetall, is being considered as a replacement for the Dutch shipyard.
CDU Bundestag member Bastian Ernst has called for a swift,interim solution. “We need a market-available, quick solution with proven partners who can quickly bring steel into the water,” Ernst told Der Spiegel, suggesting the MEKO-200 frigates built by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as a potential bridging option. He argued such a move woudl be a “pragmatic” response to threats from Russia, with the possibility of reselling the MEKO-200s upon delivery of the F126 frigates.
No final decisions have been made regarding the project’s future, according to the Ministry.
