Rheinmetall demands €12 billion to build eight F126 frigates for German Navy (opex360.com)

• Rheinmetall demands €12 billion for eight F126 frigates.
• German MoD considered four MEKO A-200 from TKMS as fallback in March 2026.
• F126 class: multi-mission ships for ASW, air defense, surface combat.

"In March 2026, the German Defence Ministry expressed interest in ordering four MEKO A-200 DEU frigates from TKMS as a fallback for the MKS 180 (F126 class) program, which Damen has led since 2020. Now Rheinmetall is demanding €12 billion to build the eight F126 units, revealing significant cost overruns and delays. The F126 class is designed as multi-mission combat ships capable of anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and surface combat."