Berlin has scrapped the delayed and over-budget F126-class frigate project, Germany's largest warship program in decades, and will order eight smaller MEKO A-200 frigates from German contractor TKMS, according to the OSINTdefender channel.
Germany has canceled plans for the six F126-class frigates, which were meant to be the backbone of the navy's future surface fleet, due to significant delays and projected cost increases, the OSINTdefender channel reported on Wednesday evening. Berlin will instead order eight smaller MEKO A-200 frigates from German contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
The decision is the latest shift in German defense procurement, following the cancellation of the Franco-German joint fighter program and the suspension of plans to deploy Tomahawk missiles. As The Zioneer previously reported, Berlin has also explored purchasing long-range missiles from Israel and Ukraine, and refused to send naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting a broader reassessment of defense commitments and industrial strategy.
No further details about delivery timelines or contract value have been reported. TKMS builds the MEKO series for multiple export navies; the German navy currently operates four MEKO A-200 ships, with two more on order.
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