The German fleet will receive two more frigates of the Lower Saxony class (F126). After the ceremonial laying of the keel of the first of four originally planned frigates at the beginning of June and exactly four years after the contract was signed, another milestone in the largest shipbuilding project for the German Navy has now been reached through the activation of the option. The number of ships increases from four to six. Ship 5 is scheduled to be delivered in January 2033 and ship 6 in January 2034.
The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has already approved the procurement of the additional ships. The Dutch naval shipbuilder Damen Naval has signed the contract with the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) to exercise the corresponding option.
Verteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius betonte anlässlich der Kiellegung die Bedeutung der Fregatte F126: „Dieses einzigartige Schiff mit seinen herausragenden technologischen Fähigkeiten steht symbolisch für die Zeitenwende, Deutschlands Einsatz für die internationale Ordnung und die deutsche Wettbewerbsfähigkeit.“
The F126 class frigates are the largest ships in the German Navy with a length of 167 meters, a width of around 21 meters and a displacement of around 10,000 tons. They are designed for a crew of 125 people and can be used worldwide in the entire intensity spectrum for three-dimensional naval warfare (air, surface and underwater). Their main tasks include maritime surveillance, enforcing embargoes, supporting special forces and evacuation operations. Thanks to special mission modules, the ships can be flexibly adapted for different missions.
Der Bau der neuen Fregatten erfolgt vollständig in Deutschland, was zu einem erheblichen wirtschaftlichen Aufschwung in der deutschen Schiffbauindustrie führt. Über 65 deutsche Unterauftragnehmer sind in das Projekt eingebunden. Die Fertigung wird parallel an verschiedenen Standorten durchgeführt: Die Hinterschiffe entstehen in der Peene-Werft in Wolgast, die Vorschiffe in Kiel, wo sie auch mit den Hinterschiffen zusammengefügt werden. Anschließend werden die Schiffe nach Hamburg zur Endausrüstung, Inbetriebnahme und Erprobung verlegt.
Roland Briene, Managing Director of Damen Naval, was positive about the decision: “This is excellent news for the German Navy and the German shipbuilding industry. We are honored that our German customer has once again placed their trust in us and our frigate design. With this decision we can expand the Lower Saxony class to six ships. It is the fastest way to expand and modernize the German Navy's surface fleet. “There are also a number of benefits to having more ships of the same class, such as training, equipment, crewing and maintenance.”
Construction of the F126 frigates began in June 2020 when BAAINBw awarded the contract to Damen Naval, Blohm+Voss and Thales. The “Niedersachsen” is the first frigate to be delivered in 2028. The ships will be able to operate as versatile multi-mission platforms worldwide in all conditions, from the tropics to the polar regions.
With the decision made shortly before the gates closed, the conceptual needs can be met. In the Marine 2035 course, originally published as a target image, the Navy inspector estimates the need for six F 126 units. It is based on NATO's defense planning goals as well as the rhythm of the Navy's deployments, training and repair phases. According to available information, NATO has a planning target of 15 frigates for Germany. The procurement of the additional frigates is a strong signal to NATO partners and contributes to credible deterrence within the alliance framework. Germany is thus demonstrating its willingness to actively contribute to international security and strengthen its naval capacities.
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