The first steel was cut on 5 December 2023 on the F126 programme to supply the German Navy with a new class of multi-purpose frigates.
The main contractor, Dutch shipbuilder Damen Naval, and its project partner, Germany’s NVL (Naval Vessels Lürssen) Group, invited more than 200 guests to attend the steel-cutting ceremony, which took place at NVL Group’s Peene shipyard in Wolgast, Germany.
“We are proud to be able to start cutting steel entirely on schedule on 5 December,” Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We were able to complete the development phase in record time: something that is partly due to the excellent co-operation with BAAINBw (Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support), the [German] Navy and the other German authorities.
“The F126 project is an important contribution to the technological sovereignty of the German, Dutch and European defence industry,” Damen added. “The co-operation with our partners Blohm+Voss and Thales is excellent, and the project is now also recognised worldwide as one of the most exciting frigate construction projects.”
BAAINBw awarded the construction contract for four F126 frigates to Damen Naval as main contractor, together with subcontractors Blohm+Voss (part of NVL Group) and Thales, in June 2020. The F126 programme is the largest shipbuilding project in the history of the modern German Navy and the contract includes an option for two more frigates.
The awarding of a German Navy frigate contract to a foreign shipyard caused some degree of heated debate in the country. Damen thus tried to take the wind out of its critics’ sails by promising to keep a high proportion of the project’s added value in Germany.
“Together with its German partner Blohm+Voss, DSNS [Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding] will realise the project in such a way that around 80% of the total investment will remain in Germany as added value,” the Dutch shipbuilder announced when the contract was signed.
As a result the ships will be built entirely in Germany at shipyards in Wolgast, Kiel and Hamburg. The steelwork and pre-assembly for the stern will take place at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast. The foreship will be built in Kiel, where it will be assembled with the stern and towed by sea to Blohm+Voss in Hamburg. Final outfitting, commissioning, testing and delivery, as well as outfitting of the onboard systems, will take place at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg. Delivery of the first ship is scheduled for 2028.
With a length of 166 m and a displacement of up to 10,000 tonnes, the F126 frigates will be the largest ships in the German naval fleet. The multi-mission platforms will be able to operate all over the world and in all conditions, from the tropics to the polar regions.
