German parliament approves buying of two warships
The Budget Committee in the Bundestag recently approved the purchase of two extra warships with an estimated value of around 3.18 billion euros. However, there's a condition attached; the purchase option for the F126 frigates, which expires on June 19th, can only be used if German businesses are able to benefit from the included price adjustment. According to participants representing the SPD, Greens, and FDP, this decision was made on Wednesday. The general contractor, Damen Dutch shipyard, will remain the same for the newly ordered ships, and all construction is expected to take place in the ports of Wolgast, Kiel, and Hamburg.
FDP Finance Minister Karsten Klein commented on the decision, saying to Reuters, "This is the largest acquisition for 2024." He believes that the procurement will significantly bolster the German Navy's ability to tackle anti-submarine warfare. These ships are designed to maintain freedom of maritime lanes in the entire Atlantic and other European coastal seas.
The German military (Bundeswehr) will ultimately receive a total of six F126 combat ships, which are currently the largest in the German Navy. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius from the SPD had shared plans for the purchase of two more frigates the previous week during the laying of the keel for the first one at Ostsee-Werft Wolgast in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The initial F126 ship is set to be delivered in 2028, while the additional frigates are expected to be delivered in 2033 and 2034.
