Germany Expands MEKO A-200 Fleet to Eight Frigates After F126 Cancellation — Germany has approved the purchase of four additional MEKO A-200 DEU frigates from Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, bringing its total order to eight vessels following the cancellation of the troubled F126 warship program with Dutch shipbuilder Damen. The expanded fleet is expected to focus primarily on anti-submarine warfare in support of NATO operations across the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic, and High North. Delivery of the first frigate is scheduled for 2029, with subsequent ships to follow in sequence. TKMS described the eight-vessel program as the largest surface-ship contract in its history, while a common hull design is expected to simplify crew training, maintenance, and supply-chain management. The MEKO A-200 DEU will measure 121 meters long with a 16-meter beam and accommodate up to 125 sailors plus more than 40 personnel for special missions. It will feature a hangar for up to two light helicopters and unmanned aerial systems, with expected armament including lightweight torpedoes, electronic countermeasures, missiles, and naval guns. Its propulsion system combines a 27,000-horsepower gas turbine with twin diesel engines producing a combined 8,000 horsepower, enabling speeds above 29 knots and a range of 6,500 nautical miles.
