MEKO A-200 DEU-class frigate

Class overview
NameMEKO A-200 DEU
Builders
  • TKMS
  • Stahlbau Nord GmbH shipyard[1]
Operators German Navy (planned)
Preceded byBrandenburg class
SubclassesMEKO 200 (parent)
Cost
  • €1.66 billion per ship
    (€6.63 billion, 4 ships[1])
  • €1.33 billion per ship
    (€5.3 billion, 4 ships in option[1])
In servicePlanned for 2029[2]
Planned8 (as of July 2026)
(4 to be ordered with option for 4 more ships)[1]
General characteristics
TypeAnti-submarine frigate[1]
Displacement3,950 tonnes[3]
Length121 m (397 ft 0 in)[3]
Beam16.4 m (53 ft 10 in)[3]
Draft4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)[3]
Propulsion
Speed≤ 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)[3]
Range6,500 nmi (12,000 km)
Complement125 (core crew) + 49 additional personnel[3]
Sensors &
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • ESM:
    • To be selected
Armament
  • ASW lightweight torpedoes:
    • To be selected
  • Missiles:
    • To be selected
  • Naval Guns:
    • Rheinmetall Air Defence SeaSnake 30[5][6]
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilitiesAircraft hangar with 1 NH90 or 2 lighter helicopters, and UAVs[7]
(note: the hangar can be shared with 2 TEU-sized mission modules)[7][8]
NotesStealth hull shape (X-shape) with a reduced infrared signature[3]

The MEKO A-200 DEU class, also known as the F128, is a frigate based on the MEKO 200.


History

Background

The Niedersachsen-class frigate (F126 / MKS180) was designed as a successor to the Brandenburg-class frigate (F123), and was intended to be used as a multi-role frigate with a focus on the anti-submarine warfare mission. In June 2020, the BAAINBw signed a contract with Damen for the design and the construction of four F126 ships.[9] The contract was later extended to six ships, and with an entry in service in 2028.[10]

By early 2026, the project was being delayed by problems with software compatibility between Damen (the designer and general contractor) and the shipyards (Blohm + Voss in Hamburg, and Peene-shipyard in Wolgast).[10]

Development

The German government and the German parliament prepared an interim solution that came into fruition in February 2026, when the BAAINBw signed a preliminary agreement with TKMS for the preparation of the development of the project. In February 2026, the objective is to deliver the first frigate in 2029. As part of the agreement, there is a budget of €50 million that cover initial procurement and work on the project, but no production contract was signed yet.[2]

In March 2026, the Budget Committee of the Bundestag approved a budget increase to €240 million for this early acquisition of materials and project work for four F128 MEKO A-200 DEU.[3]

In June 2026, the Bundeswehr officially announced that the F126 Niedersachsen-class frigate program was cancelled and that four F128 would be acquired, with a potential for four additional F128 to be purchased.[11]

In July 2026, the Bundestag’s Budget Committee approve the procurement of four ships under strict conditions.[12]

Design

The design has been initiated in February 2026, more details on the technical choices will follow.[13]

On 16 July 2026, Saab signed a contract with TKMS, valued at approximately SEK 8.7 billion, to equip the first 4 frigates. Under the agreement, scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2032, Saab will provide and integrate composite superstructures, 9LV Combat Management Systems, and advanced sensor arrays to enhance the fleet's warfare capabilities.[14] The Sea Giraffe 4A FF radar is used both for long-range air surveillance and surface target surveillance, with a full horizon coverage.[15]

Operators

Future operators

The ship is being designed to answer the needs of the German Navy. As of March 2026, no other nation has shown interest in this specific variant of the MEKO family.[13]

Ships

No. Name Builder Status Contract Laid down Launched Comm. Notes
 German Navy - 4 planned
TBA TBA Stahlbau Nord GmbH shipyard, Bremerhaven, Germany (steel construction)
TKMS (fitting out)		 Purchase approved - - Dec 2029 [16]
TBA TBA Purchase approved - - -
TBA TBA Purchase approved - - -
TBA TBA Purchase approved - - -
TBA TBA Option planned - - - [17]
TBA TBA - - -
TBA TBA - - -
TBA TBA - - -
  Planned dates

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "F128 – BMVg intends to award contract for the construction of four new MEKO frigates". Hartpunkt. 1 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 "German MEKO A-200 DEU frigates: TKMS and BAAINBw sign preliminary agreement". 6 February 2026. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "MEKO A-200 DEU – Deutschland will 4 neue Kriegsschiffe" (in German). 2026-03-19. Archived from the original on 1 April 2026. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  4. 1 2 3 "Saab receives order to equip the German Navy´s new frigates" (Press release). Saab. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Deutsche Marine erhält neues Waffensystem" (in German). 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  6. ↑ "Nachfolger Marineleichtgeschütz – neue Flottendienstboote der Deutschen Marine sollen mit Maschinenkanonen bewaffnet werden" (in German). 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  7. 1 2 "Germany Prepares to Buy MEKO A-200 Frigates After F126 Delays". 22 January 2026. Archived from the original on 1 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "SH Defence - Naval Mission Modularity" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Introducing the F126 Frigate Project | Damen". www.damen.com. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  10. 1 2 Hill, John (2026-03-19). "Germany to buy off-the-shelf MEKO frigates amid F126 delay". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  11. ↑ "Umstieg auf kleinere Kampfschiffe: Pistorius beendet Rüstungsprojekt für Fregatte F126" [Switch to smaller combat ships: Pistorius ends F126 frigate armament project.]. Tagesspiegel (in German). 24 June 2026. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Staff, Naval News (2026-07-08). "Germany Approves F128 Frigates With Conditions". Naval News. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  13. 1 2 Staff, Naval News (2026-02-06). "German MEKO A-200 DEU frigates: TKMS and BAAINBw sign preliminary agreement". Naval News. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  14. ↑ "Saab wins SEK 8.7 billion order to equip German Navy's new MEKO A-200 DEU frigates with combat systems and sensors". 2026-07-16. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
  15. ↑ "Sea Giraffe 4A Fixed Face | Saab". Start. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
  16. ↑ Staff, Naval News (2026-07-08). "Germany Approves F128 Frigates With Conditions". Naval News. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  17. ↑ "F128 – BMVg will Auftrag zum Bau von vier neuen MEKO-Fregatten vergeben" (in German). 2026-07-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
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