Production on the first of four 125 Class frigates (F125) for the German Navy has begun at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.

The production follows the contract awarded to ARGE F125, a joint venture of ThyssenKrupp Marine System and Friedrich Lürssen Werft for production of four F125 frigates in June 2007.

The 149m-long F125 has a displacement capacity of 7,000t and can cruise at speeds of 26kt with accommodation for a crew of 190.

The F125 vessel has been designed for national and allied defence, peacekeeping initiatives, humanitarian rescue missions, combat terrorism and to defend against asymmetric threats.

Delivery of the first vessel is planned for 2016, with the last vessel scheduled for delivery in 2018.