A rendering of the MKS 180 multi-role warships. Credit: Bundeswehr
BERLIN, Oct 11 (Reuters) – A tender worth around 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion) for four warships for the German navy has been delayed by around six months to ensure quality standards are met, according to a copy of a defence ministry letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
The new are expected to be delivered from 2023. They are intended to be capable of attacking targets on land and underwater and providing aerial protection to other vessels.
In the letter to the German parliament’s budget committee, Deputy Defence Minister Markus Gruebel said it would take longer to conclude the agreement with bidders than it took with previous procurement projects due to higher quality standards.
“This means that a final agreement will be available around half a year later, likely at the end of 2017,” he said in the letter.
The tender for the four ships is one of Germany’s biggest arms projects, alongside a contract for the MEADS missile defence system, built by the European defence group MBDA and Lockheed Martin Corp, for around 4 billion euros.
The defence ministry wants six of the new warships in all, although a decision on buying the other two is unlikely to be made before 2030.
Luerssen and TKMS, Blohm+Voss and the Dutch group Damen shipyards as well as German Naval Yards and Britain’s BAE Systems are among the three remaining bidder consortiums for the tender, according to security sources.
($1 = 0.8928 euros) (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Writing by Caroline Copley; Editing by Catherine Evans)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,794 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
Denmark has rejected a Japanese request to extradite anti-whaling activist Paul Watson over criminal charges dating back more than a decade, a Danish lawyer representing Watson said on Tuesday.
A 37-year-old crew member was saved after spending three harrowing days adrift at sea following alleged abuse aboard a fishing vessel. Afif Efendy, a crew member of the fishing vessel...
British oil and gas major Shell on Tuesday settled a London lawsuit it brought against environmental group Greenpeace after activists boarded a Shell oil production vessel last year.
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,794 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
