Saudi Arabia eyes German MEKO A-200 frigates from TKMS.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly holding preliminary discussions with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to evaluate the MEKO A-200 frigate as part of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ long-term procurement plan.

As reported by Tactical Report on November 5, 2025, Saudi Arabia is reportedly conducting exploratory discussions with the German shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) on the potential acquisition of MEKO A-200 frigates, as part of a broader effort by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) to modernize its fleet and expand local industrial capacity under the Vision 2030 framework.
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The MEKO A-200, launched in the late 1990s and early 2000s, adopts the CODAG-WARP system, which integrates combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion with refined propellers and a waterjet for optimized speed and endurance. (Picture source: TKMS)

This potential interest follows the signing of a contract with Navantia in December 2024 for three additional Avante 2200 corvettes, which complement earlier deliveries and represent the next phase of the Saudi naval expansion program. The RSNF is estimated to be allocating more than $4 billion in the coming years to reinforce its naval procurement pipeline, which includes acquisitions and modernization projects across both fleets. Discussions extend beyond frigate procurement to include possible interest in German patrol boats and future submarines, although such submarine programs remain at a preliminary stage. The overarching goal of this strategy is to strengthen maritime defense capabilities, safeguard critical shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, and build a sustainable domestic shipbuilding and maintenance ecosystem to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.

If exploratory talks between Saudi Arabia and Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems advance, future negotiations would likely cover not only shipbuilding but also the full range of lifecycle services TKMS provides to its naval customers. These include Integrated Product Support covering refit, modernization, maintenance, repair, in-service assistance, consulting, and logistics data management, all performed under international standards such as ASD S2000M. The company’s Product Support ensures availability of spare parts, special tools, and test equipment, while its Supply Chain Services manage stock, handle obsolescence, and deliver customized material packages through a global Original Equipment Manufacturer network.

TKMS also provides comprehensive training solutions, including simulator-based instruction, virtual and augmented reality modules, and the creation of shore-based facilities such as classrooms, workshops, and naval academies that it can operate for clients if required. In parallel, the firm offers retrofit options for sensors, uncrewed surface and aerial systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, energy systems, and directed-energy technologies, ensuring long-term modernization capacity. These service, training, and technology components would likely form a substantial part of any potential Saudi cooperation framework centered on the MEKO A-200.

The MEKO design family, developed by Blohm + Voss in the early 1980s and now managed by TKMS, forms the industrial and technological basis of the current discussions. The acronym “Mehrzweck-Kombination,” or “multi-purpose combination,” describes a modular warship concept allowing for flexible configuration and local adaptation. The MEKO 200 series was created to bridge the operational gap between light frigates and destroyers, offering a scalable vessel suitable for multirole operations. Since its introduction, it has been exported in several configurations, including Turkey’s MEKO 200TN (Yavuz and Barbaros classes), Greece’s MEKO 200HN (Hydra-class), Portugal’s MEKO 200PN (Vasco da Gama-class), and the Anzac-class frigates of Australia and New Zealand.

The MEKO A-200 is a 121-meter-long frigate with a beam of 16.4 meters and a displacement of approximately 3,950 tons at full load. It carries a core crew of around 125 and can accommodate up to 49 embarked personnel. The propulsion architecture includes a 20 MW gas turbine driving a centerline waterjet, two 6 MW diesel engines driving low-noise propellers, and an advanced CODAG-WARP configuration that allows operation in either diesel or combined power modes. The ship can exceed 29 knots and has an operational range of over 6,500 nautical miles at 16 knots. Its design allows for the embarkation of either two six-ton helicopters or one eleven-ton helicopter, along with two unmanned aerial vehicles, enhancing flexibility in antisubmarine and reconnaissance missions. The vessel also carries two eight-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boats launched by side-mounted recovery systems. A forefoot skeg and active fin stabilizers improve sea-keeping, allowing sustained helicopter and boat operations up to sea state 6. The ship is constructed with a high-tensile steel hull divided into multiple watertight sections, each with autonomous control, electrical, and firefighting systems for improved survivability during damage control operations.

The MEKO A-200's X-form hull geometry reduces radar cross-section, while the absence of a traditional funnel allows all engine exhausts to be directed horizontally or below the waterline with active seawater cooling to limit infrared emissions. A tri-axial degaussing system further suppresses the ship’s magnetic signature, reducing vulnerability to magnetic mines. Acoustic quieting is achieved through isolated machinery rafts and the aft placement of propulsion systems, minimizing vibration and cavitation noise. These measures make the ship compatible with antisubmarine operations and reduce detection ranges in contested maritime environments. The MEKO A-200’s internal architecture is also designed for long endurance missions, integrating an advanced automation suite that allows reduced manning without compromising operational readiness. Overall, the design provides flexibility for both coastal and blue-water missions and can be equipped for surface, subsurface, and electronic warfare missions depending on national configuration.

Configurations of the MEKO A-200 vary widely among user navies; for instance, South Africa’s A-200SAN Valour-class introduced the CODAG-WARP propulsion system and incorporated Thales combat management, local integration of weapons and sensors, and the ability to operate multiple helicopter types. Algeria’s A-200AN Erradii-class uses an Oto Melara 127 mm main gun, Denel Dynamics Umkhonto-IR surface-to-air missiles, Saab RBS-15 Mk3 anti-ship missiles, Thales Kingklip sonar, Saab CEROS 200 fire control system, Sea Giraffe AMB 3D radar, and Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers. Egypt’s A-200EN Al Aziz-class, delivered from 2022 onward, features an Oto Melara 127/64 LW gun, a 32-cell vertical-launch module for VL MICA NG missiles, eight MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles, NS-110 AESA radar, and Rheinmetall countermeasure systems. The A-200 family’s ability to integrate systems from multiple suppliers, including European and South African manufacturers, allows client nations to tailor the vessel for national requirements and industrial participation, a feature that aligns with Saudi Arabia’s current procurement priorities.

If acquired, the MEKO A-200 would complement Saudi Arabia’s existing fleet, which includes three Al Riyadh-class frigates derived from the French La Fayette design, four Al Madinah-class frigates from the mid-1980s, and five Avante-class corvettes produced by Navantia between 2018 and 2024. The United States has also contracted for four Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) ships derived from the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, designed to provide multi-domain capabilities in the 4,000-ton class. These acquisitions collectively reflect Saudi Arabia’s evolving procurement structure based on a three-tier model: continued purchase of Western systems, gradual integration of technology transfer and local co-development, and eventual domestic production of mid-sized vessels. Key domestic actors in this transition include Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), responsible for integration and technology partnerships, and Sofon Industries, designated to lead shipbuilding infrastructure development, including yard upgrades and future unmanned vessel integration.

Saudi Arabia’s naval modernization plan also addresses operational and logistical challenges associated with geographic and strategic requirements. The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF)’s Western Fleet, based at Jeddah, secures Red Sea shipping routes and offshore infrastructure, while the Eastern Fleet, headquartered in Jubail, operates in the Gulf and supports coalition activities. Both fleets face asymmetric threats, including attacks on shipping lanes and critical energy installations, which have intensified the focus on networked surveillance, air defense, and antisubmarine capabilities. At the same time, constraints such as limited domestic shipbuilding infrastructure, specialized workforce shortages, and the complexity of integrating diverse foreign systems impose risks to procurement timelines. If discussions with TKMS evolve into a formal agreement, a MEKO A-200 acquisition could serve as both an operational and industrial milestone for Saudi Arabia by diversifying suppliers, reinforcing regional interoperability with other A-200 operators, and supporting incremental localization of naval production consistent with Vision 2030’s defense-industrial objectives.

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.