German Naval Forces Acquire Two New Warship Vessels
Here's the paraphrased version of the story:
A major milestone has been reached in the German Navy's shipbuilding program. thy first of the Type F126 frigates, initially slated for 2028 delivery, is already under construction. In a move to bolster the fleet further, the German government has given the green light for two more ships from the "Niedersachsen" Class.
The contract for the additional frigates has been inked between Damen Naval, a Dutch shipbuilder, and the Federal German Office for Equipment, Information Technology, and Federal Armed Forces. Roland Briene, Damen Naval's Managing Director, expressed his delight, stating they feel "honored" to have the German customer's trust and faith in their frigate design once again.
This development will expand the "Niedersachsen" Class to a total of six ships, enabling the modernization and growth of the German Navy's surface fleet. Delivery of the initial frigate is set for 2028, with the additional fifth and sixth ships planned for 2033 and 2034, respectively. The entire construction process, according to Briene, will continue to take place within Germany. With dimensions of 166 meters in length and a maximum displacement of 10,000 tons, the F126 frigates are set to be the largest vessels in the German Navy.
Simultaneous construction work is expected to commence in Kiel Werft German Naval Yards and the Hamburg NVL-Site Blohm+Voss. The aft sections will be constructed in the Peene-Werft in Wolgast, while the bows are being built in Kiel, to later be assembled with the aft sections. The estimated cost of this defense project for the two corvettes is a hefty €3 billion, approved by the Budget Committee last week.
Manuela Schwesig, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Minister-President, celebrated the news, stating it offers "planning security" for their Wolgaster Peene-Werft and ensures the continuity of vital industrial jobs in Vorpommern. She concluded by expressing her appreciation for the reliable cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands in this venture.
