Sending items by sea - Pistorius advocates for additional frigates.
Six months after construction began, the first of four massive frigates from the F126 class was laid down in Wolgast. "She'll be named after my home federal state and key Bundeswehr base, Niedersachsen," said Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) at Monday's keel-laying ceremony at the Peene Shipyard. Pistorius stressed the significance of this event for the shipbuilding project. Also present at the ceremony were Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Minister President Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil (SPD), and industry partners of the project, who all hammered nails into the keel-laying board.
These new F126-class frigates will be the largest combat ships of the German Navy. They're also the most expensive military construction project in the Bundeswehr's history, with a total cost of over five billion euros. And that total might increase. "We need six, not just four, of these frigates," demanded Pistorius.
Playing catch-up is critical for the German military. "We need to make the Bundeswehr as battle-ready as soon as possible," Pistorius explained. "A turning point means we must invest in the fleet of tomorrow, not just tomorrow or the day after, so we can protect whatever needs defending in the future." The Fregatte 126 is a key emblem and clear message for this renewed focus. "Six of these frigates would enable us to not only be deployable, but also resilient," Pistorius said.
A related proposal for five more frigates has already been submitted to parliament. Minister President Schwesig (SPD) voiced her support for building a fifth and sixth frigate. "That will be a significant signal for the Navy, as well as for military shipbuilding and this location," she said. Meanwhile, the industry is ready: "We're well-prepared and fully prepared to boost production," stated Tim Wagner, the managing director of the NVL Group.
These warships are designed to be deployable globally and capable of comprehensive three-dimensional naval warfare. "The F126 can attack targets beneath the surface, across the water, and in the air, utilizing the latest armaments," explained Pistorius. Under the control of Dutch shipyard Damen Shipyards in Wolgast, Kiel, and Hamburg, the construction of the initially planned four frigates will primarily take place in Germany. The frigate +2028, which was just laid down, is set to be delivered to the Navy by the shipyard.
Read also:
The shipyard in Wolgast, Lower Saxony, is responsible for building the first F126-class frigate, scheduled for delivery to the German Armed Forces. Manuela Schwesig, the Minister President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Stephan Weil, her counterpart in Lower Saxony, both attended the keel-laying ceremony. The cost of constructing these frigates exceeds five billion euros, with Pistorius advocating for six frigates instead of four.
The Defense Minister highlighted the necessity of these frigates for making the German military more battle-ready and resilient for future defense needs. The construction of the four frigates will primarily occur in Germany, overseen by the Dutch shipyard Damen Shipyards in Wolgast, Kiel, and Hamburg.
Tim Wagner, managing director of the NVL Group, affirmed their readiness to increase production if additional frigates are required. The increased investment in the navy is seen as a critical step towards making the German Armed Forces more capable and prepared for the future.
Pistorius emphasized that the F126 frigates are designed for comprehensive three-dimensional naval warfare, capable of attacking targets beneath the surface, across the water, and in the air. The shipbuilding project represents a significant impact on both the military and the local shipbuilding industry in Germany.
