Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and the Lürssen naval division NVL are establishing a joint venture for the construction of new frigates.
The agreement was signed at the current SMM in Hamburg. Together, the two companies intend to build “MEKO A-400 AMD” frigates – a ship concept from TKMS that was specially developed to meet the requirements of an air defence frigate for the German Navy.
The cooperation agreement was signed by Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS, and Friedrich Lürßen, shareholder of the NVL Group. As the main shareholder of the joint venture, TKMS will be responsible for the development and production of the F127, while NVL will contribute manufacturing capacity.
The exact structure of the service packages is to be determined in the course of the process. The project was approved by the German Federal Cartel Office on 2 September 2024.
Only a joint venture, not a merger
“We have already made considerable investments in the development of MEKO A-400 technology and in the expansion of construction capacities at the Wismar site. Now it is up to the politicians to successfully drive forward the project for the successor to the “F124″ and provide it with the necessary funding,” explained Burkhard.
The new air defence frigate is considered a key project for surface shipbuilding in Germany. The new frigate type can be equipped with a combination of new air defence missiles to combat threats from the air and can engage several targets simultaneously at large, previously unattainable distances using long-range missiles. At the same time, the frigate can also be used against sea and land targets as well as for submarine hunting. Equipping the frigate with systems that meet NATO requirements will also ensure integration and cooperation in NATO’s transatlantic strategy with the ship design.
TKMS and NVL to develop the project at high level
According to the two leading shipbuilders, they want to create the industrial prerequisites to further develop the project technologically at a high level, sustainably strengthen their competitiveness in military surface shipbuilding and secure important jobs at the shipyards and in the national supply industry.
The joint venture will be based in Hamburg and act as a project company. Construction of the new frigates could begin as early as 2025. The planned locations are Wismar (TKMS) and Hamburg and Wolgast (NVL). The German Navy would like the first frigate to be ready for deployment in 2034. However, this would require an order to be received in good time.
