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Home» News»German Navy’s MKS 180 Frigate Program Renamed F126
Damen selects Rheinmetall to supply next-gen MLG27-4.0 gun systems for F126 frigates
Official rendering of the F126 frigate formerly known as MKS 180. It will be designed and built by Damen. German MoD image.

German Navy’s MKS 180 Frigate Program Renamed F126

The German ministry of defense (MoD) announced this morning that the MKS180 frigate program has been renamed "Fregatte Klasse 126" or F126, which is in line with the German Navy (Deutsche Marine) typical designation for frigates.

Xavier Vavasseur 02 Dec 2020

The project Multi-Purpose Combat Ship (Mehrzweckkampfschiff) 180 “MKS180” will be renamed to Frigate Class 126 “F126” – The ship is based on the principles of Intensive Usability and Multi Crew Concept of the Frigate Class 125 “F125”. The first 4 ships are scheduled for delivery in 2028.


German MoD

Das Projekt Mehrzweckkampfschiff 180 #MKS180 wird umbenannt in Fregatte Klasse 126 #F126 – Das #Schiff basiert auf den Prinzipien der #Intensivnutzbarkeit und des #Mehrbesatzungskonzepts der Fregattenklasse 125 #F125. Im Jahr 2028 sollen die ersten 4 Schiffe ausgeliefert werden. pic.twitter.com/IWgSPI7Anm

— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) December 2, 2020

For the record, the German parliament (Bundestag) formally approved the procurement of four multi-purpose MKS 180 vessels in June 2020. In the contract, the Bundeswehr keeps an option open for the procurement of two additional ships. The same month, Damen Shipyards Group and the German Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) signed the contract for the construction of four MKS 180 frigates for the German Navy.

Damen and Thales signed last month the contract for the delivery and full integration of Thales’s Mission and Combat System for these frigates.

While the name of the first-in-class F126 is still unknown, the designation follows the series of German Navy frigates classes:

  • F125 Baden-Württemberg-class
  • F124 Sachsen-class
  • F123 Brandenburg-class
  • F122 Bremen-class
  • F120 Köln-class

The German BAAINBw also announced yesterday that an agreement was reached for the procurement of eight RAM close in weapon systems (CIWS) for the future frigates.

Kürzlich konnte unter Beteiligung unserer Deutschen Verbindungsstelle USA/Canada Einigung über den Vertrag zur Beistellung von acht RAM Werfersystemen (Guided Missile Luncher System) im Projekt #MKS180 erzielt werden.@bundeswehrInfo @deutschemarine @EsGehtVoran! pic.twitter.com/wX0i8eddhp

— Bundeswehr AIN (@BaainBw) December 1, 2020

About F126 Frigate

Thales image

Thales will be providing the following systems:

  • Tacticos combat management system
  • Satcom system
  • APAR Block 2 x-band multifunction radar for AWWS
  • Gatekeeper 360° IR/TV system
  • Mirador MK2 EO tracking and observation system

Other equipment (non Thales) that will be fuzed with the Thales systems (Tacticos + AWWS):

  • MK41 VLS for ESSM Block 2
  • Naval Strike Missile (NSM)
  • KORA C-ESM and R-ESM
  • TRS-4D c-band air and surface surveillance radar
  • RAM CIWS
  • 127mm main gun with Vulcano extended range precision munition

The decoy launchers will likely be the MASS by Rheinmetall. MKS 180 will be fitted with a sonar suite as well, but the competition for this contract is still ongoing.

Thales’s Mission and Combat System includes the comprehensive Tacticos Combat Management System and the AWWS (Above Water Warfare System) Fire Control Cluster. The contract includes four ship systems, logistic services and multiple land-based test and training sites, as well as the option for one or two additional ships.

F126 Missions:

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.

  • 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

F126 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 F126 German Navy MKS 180 2020-12-02
Tags Damen F126 German Navy MKS 180
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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.

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