The F126 project, initiated with preliminary studies back in 2009, aims to create a highly versatile and modular vessel. This design philosophy is a response to the German Navy’s need for ships that can undertake lengthy overseas missions with adaptable mission profiles. The project underscores a strategic shift in naval operations, focusing on a wide array of missions beyond traditional warfare, a necessity recognized in the post-Cold War landscape.
Damen Group, a prominent Dutch naval shipbuilder, was awarded the contract for the F126 project in January 2020 after a competitive bid that attracted attention from several major European naval construction firms. The contract, valued at 5.48 billion Euros, originally included the design and construction of four frigates with an option for two additional vessels.
The design of the F126 frigates integrates cutting-edge technology aimed at enhancing the ships’ redundancy, survivability, and stealth capabilities. Equipped with advanced Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Above Water Warfare System (AWWS), and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) systems, these frigates are set to become a formidable presence in naval operations.
Construction of the F126 class began in December 2023 at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast, Germany, marking the commencement of the building phase with a steel-cutting ceremony. The first of these state-of-the-art frigates is expected to be delivered to the German Navy in 2028, signifying a major leap forward in Germany’s naval modernization efforts.
Source: Bloomberg.
