The German Bundestag’s Budget Committee has approved the procurement of four additional MEKO A-200 DEU frigates.
The second tranche follows four ships of the same type already on order at TKMS, bringing the total program to eight frigates.
“The Budget Committee’s decision is a strong sign of confidence in us. We made early investments in the MEKO A-200 DEU and, together with our partners, laid the groundwork for rapid series production. Now we can swiftly continue series production and thereby make an important contribution to closing as quickly as possible an impending capability gap in the German Navy,” said Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS.
This is the largest surface vessel contract in TKMS's history, according to the company. The first frigate will be delivered to the German Navy at the end of 2029, as planned. According to current plans, the remaining units will follow in rapid succession. TKMS also noted that the program entered the implementation phase.
The approval of the contractually agreed option and the associated expansion to a total of eight MEKO A-200 DEU-class frigates also lay the groundwork for long-term, sustainable series production at German shipyards. The four additional frigates can build directly on the established structures, processes, and supply chains of the ongoing program. This allows production to continue without fundamental changes and ensures its long-term sustainability, it was highlighted.
To remind, Germany’s Ministry of Defense recently terminated the troubled F126 frigate procurement program, citing major schedule delays, soaring costs, and unacceptable project risks, and announced plans to acquire eight MEKO A-200 frigates for the German Navy.