Kongsberg wins contract for futures German Navy's F-126 frigates.

According to a PR published by Kongsberg Maritime Sweden AB on August 31, 2022, the company is pleased to announce a contract award with Damen Naval to supply four shipsets of KONGSBERG Controllable Pitch Propeller systems along with associated hubs, blades, hubcaps, and shaft lines, for the German Navy’s new F-126 frigates.
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Artist rendering of the future German F-126 frigates (Picture source: Kongsberg)

The F-126 platform, due to enter service from 2028, will have an overall length of around 160 metres and displacement of approximately 10.000 tons. It will accommodate up to 114 crew members with 80 additional berths.

The multipurpose frigate is capable for operational missions in all maritime warfare domains, but is also able to perform other duties, such as: enforcing naval embargos, counter-piracy missions, long time maritime patrolling, maritime escort and convoy tasks, the support of special forces, and to act as a command ship for task groups.

The four ships, each with two propellers and shaft lines, will be constructed entirely in Germany at shipyards in Wolgast, Kiel and Hamburg. The building program is set to deliver the ships between 2028 and 2031, with the option to build two more after 2032, with an extended scope of Kongsberg Maritime equipment.

The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBW) contracted Damen Naval to design and construct the vessels in 2020.

The propeller/shaft line system is the successful result of a close cooperation between Damen Naval, Kongsberg Maritime, HSVA test institute from Hamburg, and the classification society.

Kongsberg Maritime has a long history of collaboration on naval shipbuilding projects with Damen Naval. Reference projects include, among others, the ASRV Nuyina (the icebreaker for Australia), the HNLMS Karel Doorman (Joint Support Ship), HNLMS Den Helder (Combat Support Ship) and SIGMA frigates.

About the F-126 frigates

F126 or frigate 126 (Fregatte 126) is a planned German frigate class intended to replace the F123 Brandenburg-class frigates in the German Navy. The ships are to be the largest surface warships to join the Navy since World War II.

The class is to be mission modular and is capable of accommodating so-called mission modules which include devices, space, sensors and weaponry necessary to carry out a given task optimally. If not in use, the modules can be maintained and replaced separate from the ship and also be exchanged between different ships in the class.

The ships are planned to replace the Brandenburg-class in their anti-submarine warfare role if fitted with a modular towed array sonar (the ASW module).

The F126 frigate will have a length of 155 meters with a displacement of up to 9,000 tons. With a standard crew of 110 sailors and up to 70 additional crew members.