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.
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93 Articles
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 …
Shipbuilder Damen has suffered a major blow. The German defense ministry is pulling the plug on a project to build six frigates in which Damen played a leading role. Due to delays and higher costs, the contract is now going to the German company TKMS.
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