A keel was laid last week for the first F126 class frigate for the German Navy, the future “Niedersachsen”.
The future frigate was laid down on June 3rd at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast. Construction of the first frigate of the F126 class began about six months ago. It is expected to be handed over to the German Navy in 2028 and will be its largest combat ship.
The program, initially known as the MKS 180 project, was won by the Dutch Damen, who contracted 4.6 billion euros to construct four ships. The Dutch company was forced to cooperate with German shipyards, so the keel installation for the first ship took place at NVL’s facilities in Wolgast in the north of the country.
The vessels will be 166m, diesel-electric propulsion, dual radar, Hensoldt TRDS-4D NR and APAR 2. Their armament will be 8 NSM anti-ship missiles and 16 Mk41 vertical launch cells for up to 64 anti-aircraft missiles ESSM 2. There will be two RAM launchers, as is customary with the Germans, a 127mm main gun with Vulcano ammunition, and two secondary 27mm SeaSnake guns.
Germany Lays the Keel of First F126 Class Frigate
