Problems with the F126 project which by parameters are closer to missile destroyers, quite allowing calling them super-frigates forced German Navy to actively seek alternative options.
As Hartpunkt writes based on its own sources, Berlin has no confidence whatsoever that Dutch Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding can realize six frigate construction within set timelines.
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For understanding: Damen laid the keel of first F126 only in summer 2024, four years after concluding a contract that stipulated first frigate commissioning in 2027.
Therefore, a preliminary contract for building frigates under MEKO A-200 project in quantity of eight units is planned to be signed soon with already German shipyard TKMS.
An important contract condition is first ship delivery by December 2029. The preliminary contract already includes a €50 million tranche to go toward procuring priority materials and organizing ship construction, plus actual work start even before concluding final order.
Also, to save time, German Navy agrees to take as basis the frigate sub-project variant TKMS offered Australia and adapt it to their needs. This means we're talking about the MEKO A200 variant that reached 4,700-ton displacement with 32 Mk41 vertical launch cells.
But Defense Expressreminds that German TKMS lost the contract to Japanese Mitsubishi, which will supply Australians with its Mogami frigates becoming the first instance of combat ship export by Japan in modern history.
Also, even the latest MEKO A200 version significantly loses to the F126 project, which envisions creating a 10,000-ton displacement frigate armed with 64 Mk41 vertical launch cells.
Overall, F126 which was to become German Navy's largest warship since World War II truly has significantly greater capabilities due to more powerful sensor and other systems.
But evidently German Navy needs real ships, not projects and fast. Therefore, as the publication notes, if a contract for MEKO A200 is concluded with TKMS, this will mean either very significant adjustment of the F126 order or its complete cancellation.
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