Germany chooses the Dutch Damen to build its new frigates

The German authorities announced that they had selected the Dutch shipyards Damen, in partnership with the German Blohm + Voss and Thales Netherlands to design and build the 4 heavy multi-purpose MKS 180 frigates (6 units in total planned) which must constitute, with the frigates F125 class Baden-Württemberg, the backbone of the German high seas navy in 2030. 80% of the work will take place on German soil, notably in the Blohm + Voss shipyards in Hamburg. But this decision is likely to be quickly threatened by appeals and pressure at the level of the Bundestag.

Indeed, the TKMS naval group, the main supplier to the German Navy for its surface ships and submarines, does not appreciate having been deprived of the most important industrial defense contract awarded by Germany, for an amount of more than 5 billion Euros. In fact, it is more than likely that, in the days to come, an appeal will be filed against this decision. Remember that the German authorities, and more particularly the Minister of Defense at the time Ursula von der Leyen, had decided to open the call for tenders for the MKS 180 frigates at the European level following numerous delays and significant defects during delivery concerning the K130 corvettes and F125 frigates, two programs entrusted to TKMS. Furthermore, like MTU or Rheinmetall, TKMS has many political support for the Bundestag, the German parliament, which must endorse the government decision. In fact, the announcement made yesterday by the German Ministry of Defense is likely to be more than contested, and even canceled.

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