Germany to procure 3 MEKO A-200 frigates as F-126 delays threaten fleet readiness.

Germany is planning the acquisition of at least three MEKO A-200 frigates as an alternative procurement path linked to ongoing delays in the F-126 frigate program.

According to a January 21, 2026, report by Reuters, Germany is preparing to procure at least three MEKO A-200 frigates for the German Navy, as delays continue to affect the F-126 frigate program. The ships would be built by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, with first deliveries planned from 2029 under a parallel procurement framework approved by parliamentary budget authorities.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The MEKO A-200 frigate has a length of 121 meters, a beam of 16.4 meters, and a design draught of about 4.4 meters, with a full-load displacement of roughly 3,950 tonnes. (Picture source: TKMS)

Reuters announced that Germany is preparing to procure at least three MEKO A-200 frigates for the German Navy, as a response to delays affecting the F-126 frigate program. With a requirement for first deliveries starting in 2029, the plan under discussion foresees a construction by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), with an indicative unit price of about €1 billion per ship, roughly $1.17 billion. Parliamentary authorities have already been informed of a preliminary agreement, while work toward a binding contract continues inside the federal government. The projected delivery sequence specifies the first frigate in 2029, followed by subsequent hulls at intervals of less than twelve months. The MEKO A-200 was selected as an existing frigate design adaptable to German requirements.

The MEKO A-200 option is structurally linked to the difficulties encountered by the F-126 Niedersachsen-class frigate program, which originally envisaged six ships but has experienced multi-year schedule slippage and unresolved industrial execution issues. To mitigate the risk of a capability shortfall, Germany’s budget committee approved €7.8 billion in 2025 for an alternative procurement path that can be activated if F-126 delays persist. This financial framework allows parallel planning rather than an immediate cancellation of the original program, but the alternative path is explicitly tied to the operational requirement that new frigates must enter service from 2029 onward. Missing this window would directly affect the German Navy's readiness levels and deployment availability. Current budgetary provisions allow for up to eight MEKO A-200s if the F-126 program should be terminated or further delayed.

Implementation planning includes the use of a preliminary contract mechanism to accelerate industrial activities before the signature of a full construction contract. An initial amount of about €50 million is intended to secure shipyard capacity, reserve production slots, order long-lead materials, and advance detailed design work. If a final construction contract is not concluded by March 31, 2026, the preliminary arrangement could be extended to April 30, with an additional €100 million becoming payable if the project advances further. Medium-term budget planning includes €724.7 million in 2026 from special funds, followed by €878.2 million in commitment authority for 2027. From 2028, approximately €6.2 billion in commitment authority is planned from the core defense budget, with spending extending through 2033. Industrial participation referenced alongside the main contractor includes Ostseestahl GmbH in Stralsund, Renk AG in Augsburg, Stahlbau Nord in Bremerhaven, and Noske-Kaeser in Hamburg. Initial physical activities, such as steel cutting and procurement of long-lead components, are expected shortly after a preliminary contract enters force.

The MEKO A-200 frigate has a length of 121 meters, a beam of 16.4 meters, and a design draught of about 4.4 meters, with a full-load displacement of roughly 3,950 tonnes. The standard crew complement is 125 personnel, with accommodation for up to 49 additional embarked personnel depending on mission requirements. Propulsion is based on a CODAG-WARP configuration combining two diesel propulsion chains rated at about 6 MW each with a 20 MW gas turbine driving a centerline waterjet. This configuration enables a maximum speed exceeding 29 knots, with an operational range of more than 6,500 nautical miles at a sustained speed of 16 knots, placing the ship in the medium frigate category optimized for long-endurance multirole operations.

Aviation and boat facilities are dimensioned to support multiple mission sets, including antisubmarine warfare, surface surveillance, and maritime security. The hangar and flight deck can accommodate either two helicopters in the 6-ton class or one helicopter in the 11-ton class, such as the NH90, alongside up to two unmanned aerial vehicles. Two rigid-hulled inflatable boats of up to eight meters in length are carried and deployed using side-mounted launch and recovery systems. A forefoot skeg and active fin stabilizers contribute to improve the frigate's stability and maneuverability. Helicopter and small-boat operations are designed to be feasible up to sea state 6. These features support sustained operations in both coastal and open-ocean environments.

Signature reduction and survivability measures are integral to the MEKO A-200 design and are reflected in specific structural and system choices. For instance, the X-form hull geometry minimizes radar reflections by reducing right-angle surfaces, while the elimination of a conventional funnel allows exhaust gases to be cooled and discharged horizontally or below the waterline, further reducing both infrared signature and thermal detectability. Acoustic signature reduction is achieved through machinery isolation, aft placement of propulsion components, and the combined use of refined propellers and a waterjet. A tri-axial degaussing system reduces the magnetic signature, and the high-tensile steel hull is divided into multiple watertight sections, each with independent control, power, and firefighting systems. This subdivision is intended to improve damage control and survivability in combat conditions.

The MEKO family covers a wide range of frigate variants in service worldwide. The MEKO 200 series is operated by Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Australia, and New Zealand, while the MEKO A-200 subfamily is in service with South Africa, Algeria, and Egypt. South Africa operates four MEKO A-200SAN frigates, Algeria operates two MEKO A-200AN ships, and Egypt operates three MEKO A-200EN frigates with additional units under construction, following an expanded order that increased the total to six ships, including local construction in Egypt. Export configurations illustrate differing combat system fits, including 127 mm naval guns, vertical launch systems with 16 to 32 cells, anti-ship missile loads typically ranging from eight to sixteen missiles, and a mix of European sensors and countermeasure systems. Potential external interest has also been noted from countries such as Saudi Arabia, while earlier design work was informed by participation in the Australian frigate competition.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.