Madsen Pushes for More Naval Contracts for North Shipyards - Germany’s €10B frigate race pits TKMS’s cheaper A200 against troubled F126
The German Navy’s troubled F126 frigate programme could see a major shift as ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) pushes its cheaper A200-class alternative. With the project valued at up to €10 billion, competition is heating up among shipbuilders in northern Germany. Meanwhile, local politicians are urging that smaller yards also benefit from the defence fund.
TKMS has submitted a preliminary contract to the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment (BAAINBw) for its A200 frigate. The company claims the vessel could be built faster and at half the cost of the F126—one A200 would cost the same as two F126s. To cut expenses further, TKMS proposes splitting construction between Bremerhaven and Flensburg.
Smaller shipyards in Schleswig-Holstein, however, have yet to secure major military contracts. Neither Kröger Werft in Schacht-Audorf nor German Naval Yards in Kiel currently have new defence projects lined up. Economy Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen hopes the debt-financed special defence fund will change this, particularly for the Flensburg Shipbuilding Company, which he wants to see involved in the F126 programme. While defence giants like TKMS, Rheinmetall, and FFG stand to gain the most, Madsen believes there is untapped potential for other maritime businesses. His goal is to ensure that northern shipyards, not just the big players, receive a share of the contracts. Separately, SPD lawmaker Andreas Schwarz is scheduled to visit Rheinmetall Landsysteme in Flensburg today. The visit comes as the region’s defence industry faces both opportunities and challenges in securing future projects.
The F126 programme remains a key part of the German Navy’s modernisation plans, but its future could hinge on cost-saving alternatives like the A200. If approved, TKMS’s proposal may reshape how the frigates are built and which shipyards benefit. For now, smaller yards in Schleswig-Holstein are still waiting for their chance to contribute.
