The new frigates are to replace the Brandenburg-class frigates. Photo: Profimedia
Germany cancels order for frigates after already spending more than 2 billion euros
Today, Germany canceled an order worth several billion euros for six anti-submarine frigates of the F126 class, which should have been built for it by the Dutch shipyard Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. In Berlin, delays and rising costs were cited as reasons. Instead, they will buy eight smaller frigates from the TKMS company.
June 24, 2026, 2:56 p.m
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The German Ministry of Defense announced today that they are withdrawing from the project to build six F126 frigates. “This is in response to significant delays affecting the project,” they explained.
Among the reasons, they cited rising costs and financial conditions that the Dutch company failed to meet, foreign press agencies report. The program has already spent 2.3 billion euros of budget money. The construction was taken over by the German Rheinmetall, which estimated the price for the construction of six ships at 12 billion euros.
Instead of the F126 frigates, eight smaller MEKO A-200 DEU or F128 class frigates will be purchased from the TKMS company based in Kiel, Germany, which are also primarily intended to fight against submarines.
