BERLIN: Berlin will buy four German-designed frigates to tide it over as it looks to resolve lengthy delays to a major order from a Dutch shipbuilder, the defence ministry said Wednesday.
Germany ordered six F126 frigates from Dutch group Damen Naval in 2020, set to be the largest vessels in the German fleet. The deal was reported to be worth over 10 billion euros ($12 billion).
The first was due to be delivered in 2028 but Berlin said last year it was reviewing the order after it was beset by "massive delays."
The defence ministry is now seeking to procure four MEKO A-200 frigates as an "interim solution" as it continues negotiations with the Dutch company, the defence ministry said.
MEKO A-200 frigates are developed by Blohm and Voss, part of German submarine and warship maker TKMS. They will be delivered from late 2029, the ministry said.
"This two-pronged approach (F126 and MEKO) serves primarily to ensure security and mitigate risks and does not prejudice the continuation of the F126 procurement," it added.
A preliminary agreement for the order was signed in January.
The ministry also said it was in negotiations with German shipyard Naval Vessels Luerssen (NVL) to take over as the main contractor from the Dutch group for the F126 order.
"Against this backdrop, commercially available MEKO A-200 DEU-class frigates have been identified as an interim solution and supplement," the ministry said.
Berlin has massively upped its investment in defence since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has vowed to build the most powerful conventional army in Europe.
