Although the design of the frigates has been undertaken by the Dutch company Damen, the ships will be constructed in Germany. German Defence Ministry Bundeswehr stated that 70 per cent of the added value for manufacturing the frigate occurs in Germany. Thales Nederland has been tasked with supplying the combat management system, integrating all combat systems, and installing the most basic sensors of the F-126. The German government has initially ordered four frigates of the type, with an option for two more for €5.47 billion, which will have a length of 166 meters and a displacement of (up to) 10,000 tons. The first F-126 frigate is expected to be delivered in 2028 in order to replace the four "Brandenburg" class F-123s that entered service from 1994 to 1996.
The Construction of German F-126 Frigate Begins
