Germany Orders Two Additional F126 Multipurpose Frigates From Damen Naval
On June 19, the German Armed Forces Procurement Organization (BAAINBw) placed an order for two more F126 (also known as Niedersachsen class) multipurpose frigates from Netherlands-based Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding BV. The new purchase, made in accordance with Germany’s “Zielbild der Marine ab 2035” (Target Posture of the Navy from 2035) plan, was in addition to the agreement signed in June 2020, which included four frigates of this class. The new contract exercises the original contract’s option for two additional frigates.
In a statement regarding the additional order, Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene said:
“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. With this decision, we will be able to expand the ‘Niedersachsen’ class to six ships. It is the quickest way to expand and modernise the surface fleet of the German Navy. This decision also benefits the German procurement organisation and the involved industry. Having more ships of the same class brings many advantages.”
The German Navy’s new F126 frigates will replace the F-123 Brandenburg class frigates, which entered service between 1994 and 1996. The F-126s, with a displacement of +10,000 tons and a length of +166 meters, will be the largest ships in Germany’s navy. The class will be armed with various anti-ship and anti-air missiles and a OTO 127/64 LW gun.
According to Damen Naval, the additional two F126 frigates, like the previous four, will be built in parallel at the German Naval Shipyard in Kiel and the Blohm+Voss NVL site in Hamburg. The stern will be built at the Peene-Werft shipyard in Wolgast, while the foreship will be constructed in Kiel and assembled with the stern. The ships will then be transported to Hamburg for final equipment installation, commissioning, and testing. Following all relevant activities and trials, the first frigate will be delivered to the German Navy in 2028, with the sixth and final ship arriving in 2034.