A keel-laying ceremony took place on 3 June 2024 for the German Navy’s first F126 frigate, the first ship in what is the largest procurement project in the history of the German Navy.
The first frigate will be christened Niedersachsen and is scheduled for delivery in 2028.
At the keel-laying ceremony at Peene Shipyard, part of NVL Group, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that the German Government is to provide an extra €323 million in funding for the F126 programme, to take into account the effect of inflation.
The Minister also indicated that the government had decided ‘in principle’ to fund another two frigates, bringing the total number of F126’s to be built to six.
Then, on 19 June 2024, after the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag gave the green light for the procurement of a fifth and sixth vessel, the Procurement Organisation of the German Armed Forces gave Damen Naval the go-ahead to expand the original contract for four vessels to six.
“This is good news, and we are honoured that our German client has the confidence in us and the F126 design to order two more ships,” said Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene.
Ships five and six will be delivered in 2033 and 2034 respectively. Construction of the frigates will take place entirely in Germany.
In a statement, the Bundesweher said, “The contractor is aiming for around 70 per cent of the value added in the project to be created in Germany. More than 65 German subcontractors will be involved in the construction of the ships.”
The Bundeswehr said the procurement of two additional frigates “is a strong signal to NATO partners” and “a significant contribution to credible deterrence within the alliance.”
The Federal Minister of Defence said the F126 programme “is a turning point in Germany’s commitment to the international order and German competitiveness.”
The F126 frigates are 167m long with a breadth of 21m and have a displacement of around 10,000 tons. With a crew of 125, the ships will be capable of worldwide deployment and of undertaking air, surface and underwater warfare.
