2 billion down the drain? German defence minister cancels world's largest frigate

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius wants smaller ships for the German navy in place of the planned world's largest frigate, Der Spiegel reports — with 2 billion euros already sunk into the project.On Wednesday, defence contractor TKMS opened trading around ten percent higher, while industry giant Rheinmetall recorded a sharp loss. The trigger: Pistorius now wants eight smaller frigates built instead of the world's largest frigate, the F-126.Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday that the mega-project had been cancelled. While the news is a boost for German company TKMS, it could prove costly for taxpayers.The project was first launched by Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) during her tenure as defence minister. In 2020, her successor Boris Pistorius (SPD) ordered the super-frigate F-126 from the Dutch Damen shipyard. Following delays and other problems, German shipbuilder Lürssen Naval Vessels — since acquired by Rheinmetall — was put in charge of the project in 2025.Some 2.3 to 2.4 billion euros already invested in frigate projectMembers of the Bundestag estimate that around 2.3 to 2.4 billion euros have already been invested in the frigate project, according to Die Welt.In place of the F-126 — most recently scheduled for delivery in 2029 — eight smaller MEKO A-200-class frigates are now to be ordered from TKMS. Each ship will cost around 1.6 billion euros, Die Welt reports, though the unit price for the second tranche is expected to be lower.At around 120 metres in length with a displacement of 4,200 tonnes, the warships now under consideration are considerably smaller than the F-126, which was to measure 166 metres with a displacement of 10,500 tonnes. The total order has also grown: originally six warships were to be procured; now eight appear likely.The navy's top brass has reportedly backed the defence minister's decision to revise the frigate plans.Will the Bundeswehr be deployed in the Strait of Hormuz?Germany, the United Kingdom and France have been in discussions over whether and how they might participate in minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz, to allow the vital global shipping lane to operate freely again following the Iran war.The growing strategic importance of the German navy is underscored by the recent dispatch of the frigate Fulda and support vessel Mosel to the Middle East, with around 140 Bundeswehr personnel on board. Operating off the Iranian coast, the German vessels would be supported by, among others, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.A ZDF Politbarometer poll found that 57 percent of respondents supported a Bundeswehr deployment in the Strait of Hormuz in the event of a lasting ceasefire, against 38 percent opposed.