Germany approves TKMS MEKO A-200 frigate design, naval laser production

A computer generated image of TKMS' future MEKO A-200 DEU frigate foe the Germany Navy. (TKMS)

Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) announced on 8 July 2026 that the Budget Committee of the German Parliament had approved the procurement of four MEKO A-200 DEU (German) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates from TKMS.

The approval clears the way for the signing of a contract worth around EUR6.3 billion (USD7.38 billion) for the construction of four vessels and an option for four more. Exercising the option for four more vessels would require a separate submission to the Budget Committee, the BMVg said in a press release.

The German Navy's four Brandenburg-class (F123) ASW frigates, the newest of which was commissioned in December 1996, are as of July 2026 still in service and need of replacement. Starting in August 2025, the BMVg and Bundeswehr began to consider using TKMS' MEKO A-200 DEU design as stopgap vessels until delayed F126 vessels arrived, the Bundeswehr said in an 8 July press release. On 24 June 2026 the BMVg and Bundeswehr cancelled the F126 programme due to excessive delays and cost overruns, with the F126 designation disappearing with it.

On 1 July Netherlands-based Damen, whose Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding entity had led the F126 programme, said in a statement that it had reached an orderly settlement with the BMVg following the cancellation of the F126 programme. Damen added that the three parties had agreed on a trilateral arrangement to transfer the project to German partner NVL (since acquired by Rheinmetall) as the new main contractor. Damen said it had been prepared to continue supporting both the project and the new main contractor after that transfer.