German Navy orders new frigates and submarines
16 November, 2024 Missile frigate of the F-127 project. Photo credits: thyssenkrupp Marine Systems The German Navy has placed an order for new frigates and submarines.
This was reported by Defense Network. Thus, as part of plans to strengthen Germany's defense capabilities, the current government is trying to implement a program to purchase new weapons, which must be supported by the budget committee. This primarily involves the purchase of F127 project missile frigates and new U212CD project submarines.
Missile frigate of the F-127 project.
Photo credits: thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
Thus, funding has now been allocated for the construction of four F127 frigates, the number of which can be increased to eight units as part of new air defense requirements. Currently, the cost of building four frigates is estimated at 7.5 billion euros, and increasing the number of these ships to eight will cost 15 billion euros. Despite the high cost of building ships of this type, Germany's current security policy is aimed at strengthening air and missile defense.
It is known that the new frigate will be based on the concept of the current MEKO A-400 frigate model from thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS). It is expected that the first ship will be delivered to the German Navy in 2034, as the project is currently being finalized and production facilities are being prepared for its implementation.
Comparison of the U-212A and U-212CD submarines. Photo credits: thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
In addition to frigates, the German Navy's submarine fleet is also expected to undergo significant changes, with modernization aimed at purchasing larger non-nuclear submarines to actively patrol the Baltic Sea and the Arctic Ocean.
The U212CD submarine project is being implemented jointly with Norway. The new submarine, 73 meters long and with a displacement of about 2,500 tons in the surface position and about 2,800 tons in the submerged position, has a displacement of one and a half times that of the U212A submarines currently in the German fleet. The technical review of this project was completed in 2024 and construction is expected to begin soon, followed by a launch in 2027.
As this project is being implemented jointly with Norway, the first submarine will be transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy in 2029 and to the German Navy in 2032. It should be noted that the country's budget committee is currently trying to significantly increase spending on strengthening defense capabilities, but at the same time is looking for a rational approach to reduce the cost of construction and procurement of new weapons. Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the German Ministry of Defense had placed an order for two additional F126 frigates.
According to this order, the Federal Ministry of Defense has financed the construction of two additional F126 frigates, bringing the total number of ordered ships to six.