On March 19, German naval shipbuilder TKMS announced on its official website that the Budget Committee of the German Federal Parliament had approved the extension of the initial contract for the MEKO A-200 corvette project. This is an important step for the German Navy in its plan to procure four MEKO A-200 corvettes to strengthen its anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
The extension of the preliminary agreement allows TKMS to continue reserving production capacity with subcontractors and suppliers and to order materials, equipment, and machinery while preparations for a final construction contract are underway. The necessary intermediate steps, the formal drafting of the contract, and the preparation for parliamentary review are now to be carried out in a timely manner.
The MEKO® A-200 frigate developed by TKMS has proven itself internationally and offers an excellent solution for rapidly strengthening the German Navy’santi-submarine warfare capabilities.
TKMS and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) signed a preliminary contract for the MEKO® A-200 DEU project at the end of January. The preliminary contract is intended to enable the delivery of the first ship by the end of 2029 and to initiate key preparatory measures.
As a major defense shipbuilding company in Germany and even Europe, in addition to the aforementioned four frigate projects, TKMS signed a formal contract at the end of January 2026 to build two Type 212CD submarines for the Royal Norwegian Navy. To date, TKMS’s order for the Type 212CD submarines has increased to 12, with the German Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy each ordering six.
In addition to its ongoing defense shipbuilding projects, TKMS submitted its final proposal to the Canadian government on March 2nd, aiming to compete with Hanwha Marine Ocean, a shipbuilding subsidiary of the Hanwha Group, for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). This project plans to utilize 12 3,000-ton conventionally powered submarines, with contracts to be awarded before 2028 and the first submarine expected to be delivered before 2035, ensuring a seamless transition between different classes of submarines for the Canadian Navy.
According to its official website, TKMS is a leading global naval enterprise that was spun off from ThyssenKrupp AG, a German giant in steel, defense, automotive and elevator components, and listed independently in 2025.
TKMS operates three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar, and Itajai, Brazil, with over 9,100 employees (including temporary workers) worldwide and a global presence. As a systems supplier, the company focuses on submarines, surface ships, marine electronics, and security technologies. Its Kiel facility, with approximately 3,300 employees, is Germany’s largest shipbuilding base.