Germany to receive first MEKO A-200 DEU frigate from TKMS in 2029 to offset F-126 delays.

Germany plans to receive its first MEKO A-200 DEU frigate from TKMS in 2029 under a preliminary agreement signed in February 2026.

On February 3, 2026, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment signed a €50 million preliminary agreement to initiate preparatory work for the MEKO A-200 DEU frigate, as delays affected the F-126 Niedersachsen-class frigate project. The arrangement authorizes early procurement and steelwork pending a final construction contract, and the first frigate is expected to be delivered in 2029.
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The MEKO A-200 has an overall length of about 121 meters, a beam of 16.4 meters, and a design draught of about 4.4 meters, with a full-load displacement of roughly 3,950 tonnes. (Picture source: TKMS)

The preliminary agreement is intended to enable delivery of the first MEKO A-200 DEU frigate by the end of 2029, provided that the full construction contract is concluded in a timely manner. Preparatory measures are scheduled to begin in February 2026 and include procurement of materials, reservation of production capacity, and the start of steelwork at the shipyard. The preliminary agreement does not constitute a binding construction contract, and the final decision on the build contract remains pending. The signing took place in Koblenz and marks the formal launch of the MEKO A-200 DEU project phase focused on early industrial execution.

The preliminary agreement initially covers procurement and work with a financial ceiling of up to €50 million through the end of March 2026. If required, the arrangement can be extended in stages beyond March, allowing continued preparatory activities before signature of the full construction contract. The objective is to secure long-lead components, allocate shipyard slots, and initiate early production tasks to protect the 2029 delivery target. TKMS management stated that the agreement enables immediate material procurement and steelwork at the yard, linking the contractual step to defined industrial outputs. No official construction contract is associated with this instrument, and the decision on that contract remains outstanding.

The German MEKO A-200 DEU initiative is structurally linked to delays affecting the F-126 Niedersachsen-class frigate program, which originally envisaged six ships but has experienced schedule slippage. Germany is preparing to procure at least three MEKO A-200 frigates under an alternative procurement path, with first deliveries planned from 2029. Planning figures indicate an estimated unit price of about €1 billion per ship, equivalent to roughly $1.17 billion, placing a three-ship batch near €3 billion. Budgetary provisions allow for up to eight ships if the F-126 program is further delayed or terminated. A financial framework of €7.8 billion was approved in 2025 for an alternative solution, with €724.7 million allocated in 2026 from special funds, €878.2 million in commitment authority for 2027, and about €6.2 billion in commitment authority from 2028 onward, with spending projected through 2033.

Industrial participation associated with the German configuration includes Ostseestahl GmbH in Stralsund, Renk AG in Augsburg, Stahlbau Nord in Bremerhaven, and Noske-Kaeser in Hamburg. The preliminary contract mechanism is structured to accelerate industrial activities before the signature of a full construction contract in order to mitigate schedule risk. Initial physical steps following entry into force include steel cutting and procurement of long-lead components. The projected delivery sequence foresees the first frigate in 2029, followed by subsequent hulls at intervals of less than twelve months. The alternative path is tied to the requirement that new frigates must enter service from 2029 onward to avoid readiness gaps within the fleet.

The MEKO A-200 has an overall length of about 121 meters, a beam of 16.4 meters, and a design draught of about 4.4 meters, with a full-load displacement of roughly 3,950 tonnes in export configurations and an estimated 3,700 to 3,950 tonnes for the German version. The standard crew complement is about 125 personnel with accommodation for up to 49 additional embarked personnel, while German planning references a core crew of 120 to 150 with capacity for up to 180 to 200 depending on mission configuration. Propulsion is based on a CODAG-WARP architecture combining two diesel propulsion chains rated at about 6 MW each with a 20 MW gas turbine driving a centerline waterjet. This configuration enables speeds exceeding 29 knots and an operational range of more than 6,500 nautical miles at 16 knots. These characteristics position the ship in the medium frigate category with endurance suitable for extended multirole deployments.

The aviation and boat facilities are dimensioned to support antisubmarine warfare, surface surveillance, and maritime security missions. The hangar and flight deck can accommodate either two helicopters in the 6-ton class or one helicopter in the 11-ton class such as the NH90, alongside up to two unmanned aerial vehicles. Two rigid-hulled inflatable boats of up to eight meters in length are carried and deployed via side-mounted launch and recovery systems. A forefoot skeg and active fin stabilizers improve maneuverability and sea-keeping, and helicopter and small-boat operations are designed to remain feasible up to sea state 6. The German configuration is expected to integrate national and European sensors, weapons, and combat management systems with emphasis on anti-submarine warfare capability, although the final system configuration has not yet been disclosed.

Signature management and survivability measures are embedded in the hull and systems layout. The X-form hull geometry reduces radar cross-section by minimizing right-angle surfaces, and the absence of a conventional funnel allows exhaust gases to be cooled and discharged horizontally or below the waterline, reducing infrared emissions. Acoustic signature reduction is achieved through machinery isolation, aft placement of propulsion components, and the combined use of refined propellers and a waterjet. A tri-axial degaussing system reduces magnetic signature, and the high-tensile steel hull is divided into multiple watertight sections with independent control, power, and firefighting systems to enhance damage control resilience. The MEKO concept, developed by Blohm + Voss in the 1980s under the designation Mehrzweck-Kombination, has resulted in 34 completed MEKO 200 family ships with 33 active and one retired, and the A-200 subfamily is in service with South Africa, Algeria, and Egypt, forming the modular lineage into which the German MEKO A-200 DEU now enters.

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.