Damen cuts steel of first F126 frigates for German Navy.

According to information published by Damen on December 5, 2023, the Dutch company Damen held the steel cutting ceremony of the first F126 frigate for the German Navy.
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Steel cutting ceremony of the first German F126 frigate. (Picture source: Damen)

The Peene shipyard in Wolgast, Germany, hosted an official ceremony, attended by over 200 guests, to celebrate the cutting of the first steel for these new multi-purpose frigates destined for the German Navy.

Damen Shipyards Group CEO, Arnout Damen credited the rapid completion of the development phase to strong cooperation with BAAINBw, the German Navy, and other national authorities. The CEO emphasized the F126 project's significance in enhancing the technological sovereignty of the German, Dutch, and European defense industry.

The contract for the construction of four F126 frigates, with an option for two additional vessels, was awarded to Damen Naval by BAAINBw in June 2020. This project stands as the largest in the history of the German Navy.

The design phase, spanning over three and a half years, was a collaborative effort between Damen Naval and its partners, including subcontractors Blohm+Voss and Thales.

The construction of these frigates will take place entirely in Germany, with the Peene shipyard in Wolgast handling the steelwork and pre-assembly for the stern, and the foreship being built in Kiel. The final assembly, outfitting, and delivery will occur at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, with the first ship's delivery scheduled for 2028.

Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany, Siemtje Möller MdB, underscored the strategic importance of the F126 frigates for the German Navy.

About the F126 frigate

She has a displacement of 10,550 tonnes and measures 166 meters in length, with a beam of 21.7 meters and a height under 39 meters. Her draft is 5.9 meters, and it is classified under the ice class ICE 1C/E1.

The frigate is powered by an installed system of approximately 32 MW (43,000 hp), using a CODLAD propulsion system with four generator sets and two electric drive motors.

She can reach a maximum sustained speed of over 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) and can cruise at 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) using electric propulsion. Her range exceeds 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), with an endurance of 21 days.

Equipped to carry at least two 10-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats, she also has additional space for another boat depending on the mission. The frigate can accommodate 84 extra crew members, such as special forces or signals intelligence specialists, in addition to its standard complement of 114.

Her sensing and processing systems include a Hensoldt TRS-4D NR multi-function surveillance radar, a Thales X-band APAR Block 2 multi-function fire radar, and an optional active/passive low-frequency variable depth towed sonar for anti-submarine warfare. She also features Thales Mirador MK2 and Gatekeeper electro-optical tracking and observation systems.

The frigate is equipped with Rohde & Schwarz KORA 40 communications and radar ESM, along with ELINT systems and facilities. She is armed with an Otobreda 127/64 naval gun, Kongsberg NSM Block 1a anti-ship missiles, cells Mk 41 VLS for ESSM Block 2B air defense missiles, RIM-116 RAM CIWS launchers, Rheinmetall MLG 27 autocannons, Leonardo heavy machine guns, water guns, and a long-range acoustic device.

The F126 can carry two NH90 Sea Tiger maritime helicopters and a Saab Skeldar UAV, with an aircraft hangar accommodating both helicopters and the UAV.