# Germany Approves Eight F128 Frigates

On October 8, 2026, Germany’s Bundestag Budget Committee approved four additional MEKO A-200 DEU (F128) frigates, expanding the planned anti-submarine warfare fleet to eight ships after the F126 program was terminated. The overall F128 acquisition is estimated at €11.6 billion, with the first delivery targeted for December 2029 and deliveries extending through 2035. Yard assignments for the additional ships have not been decided, and no open solicitation or procurement contact is identified. Damen’s reported €4.7 billion claim related to the canceled F126 program adds legal and financial uncertainty.

- The eight-ship program creates potential opportunities in ship construction, combat systems, sensors, propulsion, weapons integration, and supporting supply chains; the additional ships’ yard assignments remain unresolved.
- Contractors and suppliers can use the multiyear production schedule, beginning with the first planned delivery in December 2029, to assess capacity and potential participation in the program’s supply chain.
- The F126 termination and Damen damages claim are material program risks; businesses evaluating participation should account for schedule and budget uncertainty. No solicitation is currently identified in these signals.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 11, 2026

### Government Entities
- German Bundestag Budget Committee
- German Federal Ministry of Defence
- German Navy

### Vendors
- Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) (Prime contractor and shipbuilder for the F128 frigates)
- Damen Naval (Prime contractor on the terminated F126 program and claimant seeking damages)
- Saab (Supplier of superstructures, combat management systems, and radar equipment for the first four F128 frigates)
- Atlas Elektronik (Supplier of the planned variable-depth towed sonar)
- Stahlbau Nord (Hull construction participant)

### Sources
- [German lawmakers approve funds for eight-ship fleet of sub-hunting frigates](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/10/08/german-lawmakers-approve-funds-for-eight-ship-fleet-of-sub-hunting-frigates) - Defense News
- [Germany to buy 4 more frigates to track enemy submarines](https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-to-buy-4-more-frigates-to-track-enemy-submarines/4082530) - Anadolu Ajansı
- [German Navy to receive eight F128 frigates for anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic](https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/german-navy-to-receive-eight-f128-frigates-for-anti-submarine-warfare-in-the-north-atlantic) - Army Recognition