Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

Combined Naval Event 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • Sea Air Space 2023
    • DSEI Japan 2023
    • NAVDEX 2023
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»German Navy’s MKS 180 Multi-Purpose Combat Ship Program Back on Track
IMDEX Asia 2023
Official rendering of Damen's MKS 180. It appears to be based on the OMEGA design. Damen image.
Official rendering of Damen's MKS 180. It appears to be based on the OMEGA design. Damen image.

German Navy’s MKS 180 Multi-Purpose Combat Ship Program Back on Track

The MKS 180 Multi-Purpose Combat Ship Program of the German Navy (Deutsche Marine) is back on track following an official announcement by German Federal Minister of Defence, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Xavier Vavasseur 15 May 2020

The German Ministry of Defense (Bundesministerium der Verteidigung) announced this morning that the public procurement tribunal has ended the review procedure on the MKS 180 program, clearing the way for parliamentary approval this summer and a subsequent contract award in 2020:

#MKS180 für die @deutschemarine nimmt weiter Fahrt auf – Die Vergabekammer hat das Nachprüfungsverfahren beendet. Damit ist der Weg frei für eine parlamentarische Billigung im Sommer und einem anschließenden Vertragsschluss noch in 2020. pic.twitter.com/LwOsUh4FA2

— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) May 15, 2020

“I am very pleased that the award procedure for the Mehrzveckkampschiff 180 can now continue! I will be asking Parliament to approve the budget before the summer recess and I am very optimistic that we will then be able to conclude a contract for the MKS180 this year.”



Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Federal Minister of Defence

Initial MKS180 selection and GNYK complaint

For the record, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) announced on January 14th that Dutch shipyard Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding B.V. won the MKS 180 Multi-Purpose Combat Ship tender. Damen is partnering with Blohm+Voss and Thales to supply the German Navy with at least four MKS 180 frigates. However, GERMAN NAVAL YARDS Kiel (GNYK), who was competing in the tender, submitted a formal complaint on January 24th. It appears that the announcement this week of a long-term cooperation agreement in naval shipbuilding between Lürssen and GNYK resolved all issues and the MKS 180 program is now back on track.

Damen Shipyards statement

Contacted by Naval News this morning, a Damen Shipyards spokesperson declared:

We are pleased with the consolidation of the German shipping industry under the leadership of the Bremer Lürssen Group. After all, Lürssen, like Damen, is a family-owned private shipbuilding company in Northern Europe.

We look forward to intensive cooperation in the future. As Damen, we see this consolidation as a positive development. As a result, naval construction in Germany is moving towards the same structure as in the Netherlands, with private companies such as Damen as an ‘Original equipment manufacturer’ (OEM), together with a chain of suppliers, designing and building high-quality and innovative naval vessels, along with the Ministry of Defence.

All the advantages that the German government and other stakeholders see for themselves here are already present for the government in the Netherlands. This consolidation also increases the chance of equal cooperation between Northern European countries in the field of naval construction. A development that we can only applaud, in an otherwise unevenly distributed European playing field.

Update:

The German MoD has now officially confirmed that German Naval Yards withdrew their request to review the contract and that Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding is now officially the winner of the tender for the construction of the ships.

#MKS180: Die German Naval Yards haben gestern ihren Nachprüfungsantrag zur Auftragsvergabe zurückgezogen. Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding ist nun offiziell Ausschreibungssieger im Bieterwettbewerb um den Bau der Schiffe. #DeutscheMarine https://t.co/L6opKjg7qd

— Deutsche Marine (@deutschemarine) May 15, 2020

About MKS 180

The German Navy describes the Multi-purpose Combat Ship 180 (MehrzweckKampfSchiff ) as an “all-rounder”. The future vessel will be fit for a wide range of tasks thanks to its mission modules – with superiority in full fledged naval warfare at the extreme end of the spectrum.

The MKS 180 will be a multi-mission platform. Built-in modules designed for specific military missions will make this possible. These mission modules are at the heart of what “multipurpose combat ship” means in practice.

MKS 180 Missions:

  • Self-defense and combat missions
  • Creation of a maritime picture above and under water
  • Maritime surveillance and embargo control, including VBSS
  • Military evacuation in crisis situations
  • Escort for merchant ships
  • Command of a naval task force

MKS 180 Main Characteristics

  • Length: approximately 155 meters at waterline
  • Displacement: maximum 9,000 tonnes
  • Accommodation: 110 crew, 70 passengers
  • Operating endurance: 24 months
  • Operating area: worldwide
  • Ice class: 1C / E1 for sea areas with ice formation
  • Service life: 30 years
Damen German Naval Yards German Navy Germany Luerssen MKS 180 Shipbuilding 2020-05-15
Tags Damen German Naval Yards German Navy Germany Luerssen MKS 180 Shipbuilding
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More
DEFEA 2023

Authors

Posted by : Xavier Vavasseur
Xavier is based in Paris, France. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Xavier has been covering naval defense topics for nearly a decade.

Related Articles

German Navy mulling drone-heavy force structure looking towards 2035 and beyond

German Navy mulling drone-heavy force structure looking towards 2035 and beyond

Alex Luck 10 Mar 2023
Germany's Bundeswehr released a comprehensive document outlining the new force posture for the German Navy with a target date of 2035.
German Navy Receives 18th and final NH-90 ‘Sea Lion’ Helicopter

German Navy Receives 18th and final NH-90 ‘Sea Lion’ Helicopter

Xavier Vavasseur 06 Feb 2023
The German Navy received its 18th and final NH-90 "Sea Lion" helicopter dedicated to utility and SAR missions.
Damen partner LINEAL Engineering opens new office on Colombia’s Caribbean coast

Damen partner LINEAL Engineering opens new office on Colombia’s Caribbean coast

Naval News Staff 12 Jan 2023
LINEAL Engineering, Damen’s partner in Colombia, has opened a new office in Barranquilla on Colombia’s Caribbean coast for supporting its governmental and naval customers.

One Comment

  1. Pingback : ΠΡΟΣΩ ΟΛΟΤΑΧΩΣ για την νέα γερμανική φρεγάτα MKS 180 - Έλαβε την έγκριση του Ομοσπονδιακού δικαστηρίου - Πτήση & Διάστημα

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved