Germany Plans to Expand F127 Frigate Fleet to Eight Ships

Germany is preparing to significantly expand its future fleet of F127-class frigates, moving beyond earlier plans for five ships with an option for a sixth. Now, discussions point toward acquiring as many as eight vessels to strengthen the German Navy.

A Major Upgrade for the German Navy

The F127-class is designed as a next-generation air-defence frigate, giving Germany the ability to counter not only aircraft and cruise missiles but also ballistic missile threats for the first time. This will mark a major leap in capability compared to the current Sachsen-class (F124) frigates, which the new ships will eventually replace.

The frigates will be based on the MEKO A-400 AMD design by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), which has teamed up with NVL in a joint venture. TKMS will hold the majority stake in the project. The ships will be fitted with the U.S. Aegis Combat System as their command and control core. For radar, the German Navy is leaning toward the advanced Raytheon SPY-6, although the Bundeswehr’s Inspector General will make the final decision.

Funding and Delivery

The expanded plan for up to eight ships comes with a price tag of around €26 billion (over $30 billion), covering not just construction but also weapons and sensor systems. According to current planning, the first F127 could join the fleet in the early 2030s, with full delivery stretching into the mid-2030s.

Industrial and Political Factors

This expansion would give momentum to both German shipbuilders. TKMS is in the process of separating from thyssenkrupp ahead of a stock market listing, while NVL is being acquired by Rheinmetall. Securing a large, long-term project like the F127 would stabilize both companies and support German shipbuilding jobs.

The F126 Problem

Meanwhile, the parallel F126-class frigate programme—focused on anti-submarine warfare—has been delayed by technical and software issues with the Dutch prime contractor Damen. The problems involve transferring design data to German shipyards. Berlin is now weighing several options:

• Continue with Damen as prime contractor,

• Cancel the F126 outright,

• Transfer leadership to a German yard like NVL,

• Or pursue an interim solution while keeping the F126 alive.

One interim option being discussed is to build a number of MEKO 200-class frigates. These ships are proven in service, adaptable for anti-submarine operations, and could be built relatively quickly using existing supply chains. Analysts suggest that four MEKO 200s could be delivered for only slightly more cost than two F126s, with the first ship potentially arriving as soon as 2029.

Strategic Urgency

Germany’s Defence Ministry faces pressure to act quickly. The Russian threat has been described as the decisive factor, making time—rather than money—the key constraint. Parts of the shipbuilding industry are already on short-time work while awaiting contracts, adding further urgency to Berlin’s decision-making.

Germany’s choice to expand the F127 fleet underlines its intent to modernize the Navy with stronger air and missile defence capabilities, while simultaneously trying to resolve setbacks with the F126 programme. The outcome will shape not just Germany’s naval power, but also the future of its entire shipbuilding industry.