German shipbuilding major TKMS has signed a preliminary agreement with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) for the MEKO A-200 DEU project.
As informed, the agreement serves to enable delivery of the first ship by the end of 2029 and to initiate key preparatory measures. The preparatory measures are scheduled to begin this month.
Specifically, the deal initially covers procurement and work with a volume of up to €50 million until the end of March. If necessary, there is also the option of extending the contract in stages, TKMS noted.
The signing of the preliminary agreement marks the official start of the MEKO A-200 DEU project.
No official construction contract is yet associated with this. The decision on this is still pending, it was highlighted.
“The preliminary agreement lays the foundation for the immediate ramp-up of the project. In particular, the agreement enables us to procure materials and begin immediate steelwork at the shipyard,” Oliver Juckenhöfel , Executive Vice President Surface Vessels at TKMS, stated.
The MEKO A-200 frigate is a modern multi-mission naval warship developed by TKMS. The hull incorporates advanced stealth technology such as a low-radar-cross-section hull form and systems to minimize infrared, acoustic, and magnetic signatures, making the vessel harder to detect by adversaries.
In terms of measurements and physical specifications, the MEKO A-200 has an overall length of about 121 meters and a maximum beam of roughly 16.4 meters. Its design draft is approximately 4.4 meters, contributing to a full-load displacement of around 3,950 tons, reflecting a relatively compact but capable frigate size for modern naval operations. These dimensions support good sea-keeping and stability across a variety of maritime environments.
The frigate can be outfitted with different weapon suites, sensors, and combat systems to meet specific navy requirements. In fact, three main variants of the A-200 platform are recognized — such as the A-200 SAN (South Africa), the A-200 AN (Algeria), and the A-200 EN (Egypt).
The frigates can deliver full-spectrum 4-dimensional warfare capabilities—air, surface, subsurface, and electronic warfare. These include a variety of mission profiles: from patrol and interdiction to special forces support, search and rescue, and humanitarian operations.