수상전투함 독일, F126급 호위함 건조계획 취소, MEKO A-200 DEU 호위함 8척 조달 결정

[위종민]

독일이 사업 지연에 시달리던 F126급 호위함 6척 건조 계획을 취소하고 MEKO A-200 DEU 호위함 8척 F128급으로 건조하기로 결정했습니다. 6월 23일 관련 내용이 보도됐었다고 하네요. 

F126은 애초 2028년까지 1번함이 IOC 획득한 상태로 인도되고 2033년까지 6척 모두 조달될 예정이었지만 주계약사인 Damen이 합의된 일정과 예산을 준수하기가 불가능하다고 통보하자, 주계약사 변경을 검토하다가 계획을 취소해 버리기로 결정했네요. F126 6척을 바뀐 주계약사인 NVL과 체결하면 계약규모만 152억 유로이고, 기존에 지출된 금액을 포함하면 총 소요예산이 180억 유로를 넘는다고 합니다. 이에 비해 MEKO A-200의 초기 4척 조달비용은 63억 유로, 추가 4척은 53억 유로라고 하네요. 2029년 1번함이, 그리고 9개월 간격으로 후속함들이 인도될 예정입니다. 신속한 사업 추진을 위해 주요 센서와 무장은 TKMS가 호주에 제안했던 사양을 그대로 적용해, F126보다 독일 산업계의 참여도는 줄어듭니다. 

F123급 호위함 3척의 예인소나 체계 장착 등 개량은 2029년 완료될 예정이네요. 

독일, F126 호위함 사업 취소하고 MEKO 호위함 8척 도입

2026년 6월 24일 발행

Naval News Staff

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독일, F126 호위함 사업 취소하고 MEKO 호위함 8척 도입

상징 이미지: Damen Naval 및 TKMS

독일 국방부는 최근 성명을 통해 F126급 호위함 6척 건조 사업을 중단하기로 결정했다고 발표했다. 국방부는 이번 취소의 이유로 사업의 중대한 지연과 주계약사 변경에 따른 예상 비용 증가 및 위험을 들었다. 독일 군사 전문매체 hartpunkt는 이미 2026년 6월 23일 이러한 소문을 보도한 바 있다.

Lars Hoffman / hartpunkt

독일 연방의회 예산위원회의 승인을 전제로, 독일 연방국방부(BMVg)는 독일 해군참모총장(독일 해군 수장)과 긴밀히 협의해 대잠전 임무를 주목적으로 하는 MEKO 호위함 총 8척을 대체 사업으로 도입할 계획이다. 해상 대잠전은 NATO에서 매우 중요한 임무이며, 독일의 국가적 우선순위이기도 하다. NATO에 대한 의무를 적시에 완전하게 이행하는 것이 호위함 획득 사업에서 무엇보다 중요하다. 보도에 따르면 MEKO 호위함은 F126에 탑재될 예정이었던 Atlas Elektronik의 동일한 예인식 소나 체계를 장착하게 되며, 이를 통해 대잠전에 필수적인 핵심 센서를 확보하게 된다.

독일 국방부에 따르면 최초 주계약사였던 Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding(DSNS)은 계약에서 합의한 일정과 예산을 준수하지 못했다. 계약은 2028년 중반까지 초도함을 초기작전능력(IOC) 상태로 인도하고 총 6척의 F126급 호위함을 건조하도록 규정하고 있었다. 독일 해군은 원래 2033년까지 F126급 호위함 6척을 모두 전력화할 계획이었다. 2020년에 시작된 이 사업은 6척 건조에 약 100억 유로가 소요될 것으로 예상됐다.

국방부는 DSNS가 사업이 크게 지연됐으며 합의된 일정과 예산 내에서 함정을 건조하는 것이 불가능하다고 통보함에 따라, 2025년부터 Naval Vessels Lürssen BV & Co. KG(NVL)로 주계약사를 변경하는 방안을 집중적으로 검토해 왔다고 밝혔다. NVL은 현재 Rheinmetall 그룹의 일원이다.

검토는 이제 완료됐으며, 현재 사업 상황을 고려할 때 사업을 계속 추진하기 위해서는 상당한 추가 비용이 발생한다는 결론이 내려졌다. 새로운 주계약사인 NVL과 F126 호위함 6척 건조 계약을 체결할 경우 계약 규모는 약 152억 유로로 협상됐다. 여기에 기존 DSNS 계약에 따라 이미 수행된 작업과 필요한 공급 및 지원 계약 비용까지 더하면 F126 사업의 총 소요 예산은 180억 유로를 넘게 된다고 국방부는 밝혔다.

또한 주계약사를 변경할 경우 연방정부는 기존 계약사를 상대로 제기할 수 있는 손해배상 청구권을 계약상 포기해야 했다고 국방부는 설명했다. 이는 공공재정을 책임 있게 운용해야 한다는 국방부의 원칙에 어긋난다고 밝혔다. 국방부는 손해배상 청구 규모는 현재 법률 검토가 진행 중이라고 덧붙였다. 이는 계약 의무를 이행하지 못한 Damen Naval을 상대로 연방정부가 손해배상 청구 가능성을 검토하고 있음을 우회적으로 의미하는 것으로 보인다.

국방부 성명에 따르면 독일 해군참모총장은 면밀한 검토 끝에 MEKO A-200 DEU 호위함이 독일 해군의 핵심 임무인 대잠전을 수행하고 독일의 NATO 의무도 충족할 수 있다는 점을 확인했다. 또한 표준화된 단일 함형은 운용, 정비, 교육 측면에서 상당한 장점을 제공한다. 이는 새로운 MEKO와 유사한 장비 패키지를 장착하게 될 F123 호위함에도 동일하게 적용될 것으로 보인다.

독일 국방부는 가능한 한 신속히 독일 연방의회 예산위원회에 MEKO 호위함 8척 도입 안건을 제출할 계획이다. 이를 통해 NATO에 약속한 전력 기여를 최대한 빠르게 이행할 수 있게 된다. 예산위원회의 승인을 전제로 첫 번째 MEKO A-200 호위함 4척의 획득 비용은 약 63억 유로가 될 예정이다. 추가 4척에 대한 옵션은 2026년 말까지 약 53억 유로에 행사할 수 있다.

당초 예산 대비 MEKO A-200의 가격 상승은 산업계의 비용 추정치가 TKMS의 구속력 있는 계약 제안으로 전환되면서 발생한 것이다. 국방부에 따르면 해군의 철저한 검토를 거쳐 제안서에 추가된 필수 항목들은 전체 비용의 약 5%에 불과하며, 가격 상승의 주요 원인은 아니다.

보도에 따르면 현재 개량 중인 F123 호위함 3척은 새로운 예인식 소나 체계 등 대잠전 능력 향상 작업을 거쳐 2029년에 완료될 예정이다. 2029년 말 첫 번째 MEKO A-200이 인도되면 독일 해군은 대잠전에 특화된 대형 전투함 4척을 운용하게 된다. 이후 후속 MEKO 호위함은 약 9개월 간격으로 인도될 예정이다.

사업을 신속하게 추진하기 위해 MEKO A-200의 주요 센서와 무장 체계는 TKMS가 호주에 제안했던 사양을 그대로 적용하는 것으로 알려졌다. 이에 따라 레이더와 전투관리체계(CMS)는 스웨덴 제품이 사용되며, 독일 산업계의 참여는 F126 사업보다 줄어들게 된다. 이는 Hensoldt와 Thales 같은 레이더 공급업체에도 영향을 미친다. 다만 스웨덴 장비 패키지가 8척 모두에 적용될지는 추가 논의 대상이 될 것으로 보인다. hartpunkt가 입수한 정보에 따르면 MEKO에는 스웨덴 RBS 15가 아니라 Naval Strike Missile(NSM)이 장착될 예정이다. 또한 스웨덴의 9LV 전투관리체계를 해군의 새로운 표준 전투관리체계인 Lockheed Martin Canada의 CMS 330으로 교체하는 방안도 검토되는 것으로 보인다. 아울러 이미 상당한 기여를 한 F126 사업의 하도급 업체들을 어떻게 처리할지도 다음 단계에서 결정될 것으로 예상된다.

F126 사업 취소 결정과 관련해 독일 연방의회 CDU/CSU 원내 해군 담당 대변인 Bastian Ernst는 다음과 같이 밝혔다.

"F126 호위함 사업은 아주 오래전부터 시작됐으며 오늘날의 안보 환경에는 더 이상 적합하지 않습니다. 원래 이 호위함은 다양한 임무 모듈을 장착해 여러 임무를 수행할 수 있는 다목적 전투함으로 설계됐습니다. 그러나 사업 자체가 지나치게 야심적이었기 때문에 매우 이른 시기부터 문제와 지연이 발생했습니다. 현재 일정대로라면 초도함 인도는 2028년이 아니라 2032년으로 예상됐습니다. 우리에게는 그런 시간을 기다릴 여유가 없습니다. 우리는 NATO 동맹국들에게 적 잠수함 방어에서 중요한 역할을 맡기로 약속했습니다. 따라서 Pistorius 국방장관이 이제 사업을 중단한 것은 지극히 합리적인 결정입니다. 끝없는 고통을 겪느니 차라리 고통스럽더라도 끝내는 편이 낫습니다."

TKMS의 MEKO A-200을 F128으로 지정해 도입하는 계약은 임박한 것으로 알려졌다. 사업은 이미 사전 합의에 따라 시작됐다.

Ernst는 "연방의회는 2025년 말 F126의 대안 사업 획득을 위해 예산에 78억 유로를 반영함으로써 이를 가능하게 만들었습니다. 또한 의회 결의를 통해 이러한 사전 합의를 추진하도록 했습니다. 따라서 국방장관이 이제 의회가 제시한 방향을 따르게 된 것을 매우 기쁘게 생각합니다."라고 말했다.

새로운 함정을 새롭게 설계하는 대신 이미 검증된 기성(off-the-shelf) 함정을 소규모 개량만 거쳐 도입하기로 결정했다.

Ernst는 "이를 통해 우리 해군은 러시아 잠수함에 대응하는 데 시급히 필요한 함정을 가능한 한 빨리 확보할 수 있습니다. TKMS뿐 아니라 수많은 협력업체들도 함께 참여하게 되며, 이는 독일의 방위산업 기반을 더욱 강화하게 될 것입니다."라고 강조했다.

이 기사는 Lars Hoffman이 독일어로 hartpunkt.de에 처음 게재한 것이다. 허가를 받아 번역 및 재게재했다.

Germany is cancelling the F126 frigate project and procuring eight MEKO frigates - Naval News

Germany is cancelling the F126 frigate project and procuring eight MEKO frigates

• Published on 24/06/2026
• By Naval News Staff
• In News

Symbolic images: Damen Naval and TKMS

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The German Ministry of Defense has decided to discontinue the construction of six F126-class frigates, as the ministry announced in a recent statement. The cancellation is attributed to significant project delays and the foreseeable cost increases and risks associated with changing the general contractor. Hartpunkt had already reported on corresponding rumors on June 23, 2026.

By Lars Hoffman / hartpunkt

Subject to approval by the Budget Committee, the German Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg) is pursuing the purchase of a total of eight MEKO frigates – primarily for anti-submarine warfare – as an alternative and in close coordination with the Inspector of the Navy (the head of the German Navy). Sea-based anti-submarine warfare is of paramount importance within NATO and therefore also a national priority. The timely and complete fulfillment of NATO obligations is crucial in the procurement of frigates. Reportedly, the MEKO frigates will be equipped with the same towed sonar system from Atlas Elektronik as the F126. This will provide them with an important sensor for anti-submarine warfare.

According to the BMVg, Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS), the company initially contracted as the prime contractor, was unable to meet the agreed-upon time and budget constraints. The contract stipulated delivery of the first ship, with initial operational capability, by mid-2028 and the construction of a total of six F126-class frigates. The German Navy originally planned to have all six F126-class frigates available by 2033. The project, which began in 2020, was projected to cost approximately €10 billion for the six frigates.

In response to DSNS’s notification that the contract was significantly delayed and that construction of the ships was not possible within the agreed timeframe or within the agreed budget, the Ministry of Defense has been intensively examining the possibility of changing the prime contractor to Naval Vessels Lürssen BV & Co. KG (NVL), starting in 2025, the ministry writes. NVL is now part of the Rheinmetall Group.

The review has now been completed and has revealed that, due to the project’s current situation, significant additional costs would be incurred to continue the project. A contract with the new prime contractor, NVL, for the construction of six F126 frigates was negotiated at a figure of approximately €15.2 billion. In addition, the services already provided under the existing contract with DSNS and necessary contracts for supplies and support services would have to be taken into account. The Ministry stated that the total financial requirement for the F126 would thus increase to over €18 billion.

Furthermore, the federal government would have had to contractually waive any potential claims for damages against the previous contractor in the event of a change of prime contractor, the statement continues. This contradicts the Ministry of Defense’s understanding of the responsible use of public funds. The amount of these claims is currently part of a legal review, the statement adds. This likely means, in a veiled way, that the federal government is examining potential claims for damages against Damen Naval, which failed to fulfill its contractual obligations.

The Head of the German Navy has confirmed, after intensive review, that the MEKO A-200 DEU frigates are capable of fulfilling the German Navy’s core mission of anti-submarine warfare and thus also Germany’s NATO obligations, according to the statement. Furthermore, a standardized ship type offers significant advantages in operation, maintenance, and training. This is also likely to apply to the F123 frigates, which will receive a similar equipment package to the new MEKOs.

The BMVg intends to submit the basis for a decision on the purchase of eight MEKO frigates to the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag as soon as possible. This will allow the force contributions pledged to NATO to be implemented as quickly as possible. Subject to approval by the Budget Committee, the procurement price for the first four MEKO A-200 frigates would amount to approximately €6.3 billion. The option for four further ships could be exercised by the end of 2026 for approximately €5.3 billion.

The cost increases for the MEKO A-200 frigates compared to the originally budgeted amount are based on the conversion of the industry’s cost estimate into a binding contract offer from TKMS. According to the Ministry of Defense, the measures deemed essential to supplement the offer after thorough review by the Navy account for only about five percent of the total costs and are therefore not a significant driver of the price increase.

Reportedly, the three F123 frigates currently being refitted and equipped with anti-submarine warfare capabilities, such as a new towed sonar system, are scheduled for completion in 2029. With the arrival of the lead ship, the MEKO A-200, expected towards the end of 2029, the German Navy would then have four large combat ships specialized for anti-submarine warfare. After that, follow-on MEKO frigates are apparently set to be delivered every nine months.

Due to the desired procurement speed, it is understood that key sensor and effector packages for the MEKO A-200 will be adopted from the TKMS bid to Australia. This means that, among other things, the radars and the combat management system (CMS) will come from Sweden, while German industry will not be involved to the same extent as with the F126. This affects companies like Hensoldt and Thales as radar suppliers. Whether the Swedish equipment package will be used for all eight MEKO ships is likely to be a subject of further discussion. According to information obtained by hartpunkt, the MEKOs will at least be equipped with Naval Strike Missiles, and not the Swedish RBS 15. It also seems conceivable that the Swedish CMS 9LV will be replaced by the Navy’s new standard CMS, the CMS 330 from Lockheed Martin Canada. Furthermore, the next step will likely involve determining how to deal with the subcontractors of the F126 project, who have already made significant contributions.

Regarding the decision to cancel the F126 frigate project, Bastian Ernst, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s spokesperson on naval affairs in the Bundestag, stated: “The F126 frigate procurement project began long before the Common Era and is no longer appropriate for today’s security situation. Originally designed as a multi-purpose combat ship, the frigate was intended to be a jack-of-all-trades, adaptable to various mission modules for different purposes. The project was so ambitious that problems and delays arose very early on. Delivery of the first ship was – according to the current schedule – not expected until 2032 instead of 2028. That’s time we don’t have. We have committed ourselves to our NATO allies to make significant contributions to defense against enemy submarines. It is therefore only logical that Defense Minister Pistorius has now pulled the plug. Better an end with horror than a horror without end.”

The contract for the procurement of the MEKO A-200 from TKMS, designated F128, is imminent. The project has already begun thanks to a preliminary agreement. “As the Bundestag, we made this possible by the end of 2025 by allocating €7.8 billion in the budget for the procurement of an alternative to the F126 frigate. Furthermore, we had mandated such a preliminary agreement through a resolution. I am therefore all the more pleased that the Minister of Defense is now pursuing the path outlined by the Bundestag.”

Instead of planning a new ship, the decision was made to use a readily available, off-the-shelf vessel with only minor modifications. “This ensures our navy receives the ships it urgently needs for defense against Russian submarines as quickly as possible. In addition to tkms itself, numerous subcontractors are also involved, thus strengthening Germany’s position as a defense industry hub,” Ernst emphasizes.

This article by Lars Hoffman was originally published in German language at hartpunkt.de. It has been translated and republished with authorization.

[백선호]

F126은 10,000톤을 넘는 엄청 큰 배였네요. 무장을 많이 하기보다는 정비 없이 2년 작전할 수 있게 만들려다 커진 것이 아닌가 싶습니다.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niedersachsen-class_frigate