Naval News 27 May 2025 : Saab Australia and German company TKMS have signed a MOU to support the German pitch for Australia’s SEA 3000 patrol frigate program. The SEA 3000 program is a mult-ibillion enterprise pitting Germany’s TKMS MEKO 200 against Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ evolved Mogami guided missile frigate to deliver the Royal Australian Navy a fleet of “Tier Two” general purpose frigates.

The Egyptian Navy MEKO 200 frigate ENS Al-Qadeer built by TKMS during fitting out in Kiel, Germany, June 2023

The signing ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, Director-General for Armaments in the German Federal Ministry of Defence, who underlined the strategic importance of such partnerships. The agreement builds on a long-standing working relationship between TKMS and Saab Australia and underscores both companies’ commitment to supporting sovereign industrial capability in naval defence. Saab’s Australian Combat Management System (AusCMS), already operational across the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet, will play a key role in the collaboration.

TKMS brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously delivered the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates and supported similar projects for 16 navies worldwide, including six NATO members, with their model supporting partner nations by enabling domestic build, maintenance and upgrade of naval vessels. This MOU comes as Australia continues to shape the future of its naval capabilities through programs like the SEA 3000 initiative aimed at replacing the ageing Anzac Class frigates with advanced, multi-role warships for the Royal Australian Navy.