Keel laid for German Navy’s first F126 frigate

The German Navy has held a keel-laying ceremony for the first F126 frigate at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast.

As disclosed, the ceremony took place on June 3, 2024. The first frigate will be christened Niedersachsen and is scheduled for delivery in 2028. Its first section towered over the ceremony as the guests at the ceremony hammered a nail into a special plaque with a commemorative coin. 

Dutch shipbuilder Damen Naval received the first contract to build four vessels in this class. In addition to this, Damen and the German Navy agreed the construction of two more frigates. The program is valued at more than €5 billion.

With a length of 166 meters and a displacement of around 10,000 tonnes, these vessels are set to become the largest warships in the German Navy. They can accommodate 198 soldiers. Furthermore, they will engage targets across air, water, and underwater domains.

To remind, Damen Naval and project partner NVL Group held a steel-cutting ceremony for the German Navy’s first F126 frigate in December last year.

The ships will be built entirely in Germany at shipyards in Wolgast, Kiel and Hamburg. The steelwork and pre-assembly for the stern will take place at the Peene shipyard, part of the NVL Group.

The foreship will be built in Kiel, where it will be assembled with the stern and towed by sea to Blohm+Voss in Hamburg. Final outfitting, commissioning, testing and delivery, as well as outfitting of the on-board systems, will take place at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg.