MEKO

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Hessen (F 221), a F124-class frigate (Sachsen-class frigate) of the German Navy. F221 Hessen-Kieler Woche 2007.jpg
Hessen (F 221), a F124-class frigate (Sachsen-class frigate) of the German Navy.

The MEKO family of warships was developed by the German company Blohm+Voss. MEKO is a registered trademark. The portmanteau stands for "Mehrzweck-Kombination" (English: multi-purpose-combination). It is a concept in modern naval shipbuilding based on modularity of armament, electronics and other equipment, aiming at ease of maintenance and cost reduction.

Contents

MEKO ships include families of frigates, corvettes and ocean-going patrol boats. Construction of MEKO ships began in the late 1970s with the design and later building of Nigeria's MEKO 360 H1. Vessels of similar classes use different weapons systems. For example, for the main gun, some MEKO 200s use the Mk 45 Mod 2 gun, others use the French 100 mm naval gun or Otobreda 76 mm gun. [1]

The latest variant is the "Combat Ship for the Littorals" or MEKO CSL. It has also been called a "Littoral Combatant Ship", but it is much smaller than the American Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). [2] There was speculation that this design would be of interest to Israel, [3] [4] but it was not. [5] Ultimately however, Israel opted for four modified K130 Braunschweig-class corvettes, the first of which is expected to enter service in 2019. The new variant is dubbed the Sa'ar 6-class corvette. [6] Four extended versions of MEKO A-100 light frigate vessels are planned to be supplied for the Brazilian Navy between 2025 and 2028. The consortium is formed by Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and Atech, a subsidiary of the Embraer Group. The construction of the vessels, which are more than 100 meters long, are planned for the Oceana shipyard in Itajaí. [7]

Models

The following MEKO models are known to have been built, organized by lineage and delivery dates:

As of October 2021, the MEKO website showcases A-200, F125, and A-100 models. The following models are once mentioned on the website, but no examples are known to have been built:

Vessels

TypeClassCountryNumberDeliveryWeightLength o.a. (m)Beam (m)Draught (m)Main gun SAM ASM Image
MEKO 360 H1 Aradu Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 119813,360 tons125.8015.004.30 Otobreda 127/54 Compact Aspide Otomat NNS Aradu F89.jpg
MEKO 360 H2 Almirante Brown Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 41983–19843,360 tons125.8015.004.30 Otobreda 127/54 Compact Aspide Exocet D13 ARA Sarandi DN-SC-91-01826.jpg
MEKO 140 A16 Espora Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 61985–20021,560 tons91.2011.003.33 Otobreda 76 mm Exocet P42ARARosalesWWM.jpg
MEKO 200 TN I Yavuz Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 41987–19893,030 tons110.5014.204.14 Mk 45 Mod 2 gun RIM-7 Harpoon Turgutreis F241.jpg
MEKO 200 PN Vasco da Gama Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 31991–3,400 tons115.9014.804.10 French 100 mm naval gun RIM-7 Harpoon NRP Corte Real 2.jpg
MEKO 200 HN [13] Hydra Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 419923,360 tons117.0014.804.10 Mk 45 Mod 2 gun RIM-162 Harpoon Greek frigate HS Spetsai, F-453.jpg
MEKO 200 TN II-A Barbaros Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 21995–3,100 tons116.7014.804.10 Mk 45 Mod 2 gun RIM-7, RIM-162 Harpoon TCG Oruc Reis (F245).jpg
MEKO 200 ANZAC Anzac Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
8 (Aus)
2 (NZ)
1996–20043,500 tons118.0014.804.10 Mk 45 Mod 4 gun RAN: RIM-162,
RNZN: RIM-7, Phalanx Block 1
RAN: Harpoon
RNZN: None
US Navy 100707-N-0641S-247 HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152) departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to support Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises.jpg HMAS Perth (FFH 157).jpg
HMNZS Te Kaha arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for RIMPAC 2016.jpg
MEKO 200 TN II-B Salih Reis Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 21998–3,100 tons118.0014.804.30 Mk 45 Mod 2 gun RIM-7, RIM-162 Harpoon Ae ag tur F247.jpg
MEKO A-200 SAN Valour Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 42003–20043,700 tons121.0016.344.40 Otobreda 76 mm Umkhonto Exocet SAS Spioenkop during Exercise IBSAMAR V.JPG
MEKO 100 RMN Kedah Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 62004–20101,850 tons91.1012.853.40 Otobreda 76 mm IMDEX 2007 Malaysian ship (523652840).jpg
MEKO A-100 ORP Ślązak Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 120192,150 tons95.2013.303.60 Otobreda 76 mm Grom ORP "Slazak".jpg
Corvette 130 (K130) Braunschweig Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 52008–1,840 tons88.7512.803.40 Otobreda 76 mm RIM-116 RBS-15 Korvette Braunschweig F260 2895.jpg
Frigate 123 (F123) Brandenburg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 41994–19963,600 tons138.8516.704.35 Otobreda 76 mm RIM-116, RIM-7 Exocet, RBS-15 Fregatte Mecklenburg-Vorpommern F218.jpg
Frigate 124 (F124) Sachsen Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 32002–5,690 tons143.0017.444.86 Otobreda 76 mm RIM-116, RIM-162, RIM-66 Harpoon FGS Sachsen (F 219).jpg
Frigate 125 (F125) Baden-Württemberg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany +42016-7,200 tons149.5218.805.00 Otobreda 127 mm RIM-116 Harpoon BADEN-WURTTEMBERG 00257 (cropped).jpg
MEKO A-200 AN Erradi [14] Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria +22016-3,700 tons122,16.34.4 Otobreda 127 mm Umkhonto IR RBS-15 Meko-A200Algeria.jpg
(K130-based, no official model) [15] [16] Sa'ar 6 Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 42020- [17] 2,000 tons90.0012.443.40 OTO Melara 76 mm Barak-8, C-Dome Harpoon INS Magen. II.jpg
MEKO A-100 BR [18] Tamandaré Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 42024–20283,360 tons107.2165.2 OTO Melara 76 mm CAMM MANSUP Frigate Tamandare.png
MEKO A-200ENAl-Aziz [19] Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 62022–20253,700 tons12014.84.3Otobreda 127 mmMICA NGExocet AL-AZIZ 2651.jpg

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German Navy</span> Maritime warfare branch of Germanys military

The German Navy is the navy of Germany and part of the unified Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the Bundesmarine from 1956 to 1995, when Deutsche Marine became the official name with respect to the 1990 incorporation of the East German Volksmarine. It is deeply integrated into the NATO alliance. Its primary mission is protection of Germany's territorial waters and maritime infrastructure as well as sea lines of communication. Apart from this, the German Navy participates in peacekeeping operations, and renders humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It also participates in anti-piracy operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blohm+Voss</span> German shipbuilding and engineering company

Blohm+Voss (B+V), also written historically as Blohm & Voss, Blohm und Voß etc., is a German shipbuilding and engineering company. Founded in Hamburg in 1877 to specialise in steel-hulled ships, its most famous product was the World War II battleship Bismarck. In the 1930s, its owners established the Hamburger Flugzeugbau aircraft manufacturer which, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, adopted the name of its parent company. Following a difficult period after the war, B+V was revived, changing ownership among several owners, as Thyssen Group and Star Capital. In 2016, it became a subsidiary of Lürssen and continues to supply both the military and civilian markets. It serves two areas – new construction of warships as NVL B.V. & Co. KG, and new construction and refitting of megayachts. The company has been in operation, building ships and other large machinery, almost continuously for 146 years.

SAS <i>Amatola</i>

SAS Amatola (F145) is the first of four Valour-class frigates for the South African Navy by the European South African Corvette Consortium.

SAS <i>Mendi</i>

SAS Mendi (F148) is the last of four Valour-class frigates built for the South African Navy by the European South African Corvette Consortium and entered service in March 2007. SAS Mendi was named by Mrs Helena Retief, wife of the (then) Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Johan Retief.

<i>Braunschweig</i>-class corvette Stealth warship class of the German Navy

The K130 Braunschweig class is Germany's newest class of ocean-going corvettes. Five ships have replaced the Gepard-class fast attack craft of the German Navy.

<i>Baden-Württemberg</i>-class frigate Series of frigates of the German Navy

The F125 Baden-Württemberg-class frigates are a series of frigates of the German Navy, which were designed and constructed by ARGE F125, a joint-venture of Thyssen-Krupp and Lürssen. The Baden-Württemberg class is one the heaviest displacement of any class of frigates worldwide. They have replaced the Bremen class. They are primarily designed for low and medium intensity maritime stabilization operations, where they are supposed to provide sea-to-land tactical fire support, asymmetric threat control at sea and support of special forces.

The German Naval Group is a consortium of German industrial companies that bid and won a major contract to design and build the New Generation Patrol vessels (NGPV) for the Royal Malaysian Navy.

MEKO 360

The MEKO 360 is a class of five ships built in Germany for the Argentine and Nigerian navies. The MEKO 360 was the first version of the MEKO family of vessels built by Blohm und Voss. The type comes in two variants, the MEKO 360H1, comprising one ship, and the MEKO 360H2, comprising four ships. They are alternatively classed as frigates and destroyers by different sources. The design is based on the modular concept which allows swapping out different armaments to fit mission requirements and allows for easier application of upgrades and refits.

MEKO 140

The MEKO 140 is a frigate/corvette design by the German Blohm + Voss shipyard as part of the MEKO family of vessels. The MEKO 140 is a development of the Portuguese Navy's João Coutinho-class corvettes designed by the Portuguese naval engineer Rogério de Oliveira in the late 1960s – three ships of which were built Blohm + Voss in 1970, as an outsourcing.

<i>Espora</i>-class corvette

The Espora-class corvettes are six warships of the Argentine Navy built in Argentina to the German MEKO 140A16 design, this in turn being based on the Portuguese João Coutinho-class project. The first entered service in 1985 but accidents and lack of funds meant the last was not completed until 2004. The ships currently form the 2nd Corvette Division of the Argentine Navy and their home port is the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base. Although considered by its designers to be frigates, the Espora-class vessels have been classed in Argentina as corvettes.

MEKO 200 Widely exported German frigate design

The MEKO 200 is a frigate design by the Blohm + Voss shipyard of Germany, as part of the MEKO family of warships.

Saar 6-class corvette Class of Israeli Navy corvettes ordered in 2015

The Sa'ar 6-class corvette is a series of four German-made corvettes ordered for the Israeli Navy in May 2015.

<i>Tamandaré</i>-class frigate Brazilian frigate class

The Tamandaré class are a class of future stealth guided-missile frigates for the Brazilian Navy, based on the MEKO family of ships. The project is being developed by the Ministry of Defence and the Águas Azuis consortium, composed of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Embraer Defense & Security. The construction of the four planned frigates started in 2022 and are scheduled to be delivered between 2024 and 2028.

F126 frigate Planned class of German Navy frigates

F126 or frigate 126 is a planned German frigate class intended to replace the F123 Brandenburg-class frigates in the German Navy. The ships are to be the largest surface warships to join the German Navy since World War II. The first ship is planned to be commissioned in 2028.

German corvette <i>Köln</i> Braunschweig-class corvette

Köln(F265) is the sixth ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.

German corvette <i>Emden</i> Braunschweig-class corvette

Emden(F266) is the seventh ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.

German corvette <i>Lübeck</i> Braunschweig-class corvette

Lübeck(F269) is the tenth ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.

German corvette <i>Augsburg</i> Braunschweig-class corvette

Augsburg is the ninth ship of the Braunschweig-class corvettes of the German Navy.

INS <i>Oz</i> Saar-class corvette

INS Oz is a Sa'ar 6-class corvette of the Israeli Navy. She is the second ship of her class.

ENS <i>Al-Aziz</i> MEKO 200 frigate of the Egyptian Navy

ENS Al-Aziz is the lead ship of Al-Aziz-class frigates of the Egyptian Navy.

References

  1. "Overview Products + Services". thyssenkrupp marine systems. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  2. Boustead Gets Letter Of Intent To Build Six Patrol Vessels Malaysian National News Agency ~ BERNAMA, 18 October 2010
  3. "MEKO CSL: The Combat Ship for the Littorals". Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  4. Israeli Navy Wants Stealth Corvettes
  5. MOD: No talks with Germany over sub
  6. "Israel signs €430m deal for German patrol vessels - Globes English". Globes. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  7. "Por US$ 1,6 bi, consórcio com Embraer é escolhido para construir navios para Marinha". G1. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  8. 1 2 Ozberk, Tayfun (10 October 2021). "TKMS Lifts Veil On Powerful MEKO A-300 Class Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  9. MEKO® A-100
  10. "Corvettes & Light Frigates". thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com. The Class MEKO® A-100 Patrol Corvette is the latest version of the Class 130 Corvette, which is in service with the German Navy.
  11. MEKO® D Corvette
  12. "Blohm + Voss Naval". www.blohmvoss-naval.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. "Frigates Class Meko-200HN". Hellenic Navy. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  14. Binnie, James. "Algeria commissions second Meko frigate". Jane's 360. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  15. "Design of Future TKMS Built Saar 6 MEKO A100 Corvettes For Israeli Navy Unveiled". Navy Recognition. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  16. Opall-Rome, Barbara (4 August 2016). "Israeli Navy Marks Milestones at German Shipyards". defensenews. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  17. "Google Translate". translate.google.co.il. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  18. "Brasil inicia construcción de fragatas clase Tamandaré". Pucará Defensa (in Spanish). 9 September 2022.
  19. "Egyptian MEKO A200 frigate ENS Al Aziz is fitted with Thales NS100 3D naval radar". Navy Recognition. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-09.