Within the framework of the 27th edition of the DWT-Marineworkshops, sources familiar with the troubled F126 Program of the German Navy told local media that the service is evaluating its definitive cancellation, while at the same time drawing up plans to acquire up to eight new F127 frigates from TKMS. This is a design that already received the green light toward the end of last year and was selected by the force to serve as the backbone of its naval air defense capabilities. It will now also take over the role originally envisioned for anti-submarine warfare frigates, which the Damen shipyard failed to build in accordance with the agreed conditions.
Expanding on the details, reports point to a major breach of contract by the Dutch company, to the extent that speculation suggests a cancellation would not require compensation payments from the German government; on the contrary, Damen is expected to be the one required to pay Berlin in penalties. It is worth recalling, as we reported last July, that the project’s main obstacle stemmed from the software design interfaces used by the company, leading to delays for the shipyard itself and for several German industrial partners involved in the construction of the F126.
In this context, the program now faces two potential paths: first, outright termination, which would force Damen to reimburse Berlin; or second, revocation, in which the components already manufactured (such as radars) would be delivered to the German Navy to explore their integration into the new vessels. So far, there is no certainty about which option will be chosen, although analysts have already voiced technical concerns regarding the latter alternative due to the design of the F127 frigates—leaving the first path as the most likely.
Looking at their replacement, sources consulted have emphasized that Germany is moving quickly toward selecting the F127 model from TKMS, which is already characterized by its modularity—facilitating the integration of sensors and specific equipment required to turn it into an anti-submarine warfare frigate. However, there are significant doubts regarding delivery schedules, which will be substantially altered as a result of the situation. While the first F126 units were originally expected to be delivered by 2028, the current outlook foresees that the first F127s will not arrive until 2034.
This, in turn, brings with it the consequent operational challenges and legitimate concerns about the Navy potentially being unable to meet its assigned tasks in the future—particularly if the first ships do not arrive until the middle of the next decade. In concrete terms, the development means waiting more than a decade before the new anti-submarine fleet can even begin to take shape—a major blow to the service’s capabilities, although it remains the only viable path forward for now.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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