MEKO

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.

See also: Methylethyl ketone oxime
Hessen (F 221), a F124-class frigate (Sachsen-class frigate) of the German Navy.

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:

  • MEKO 360 (1981) is the earliest MEKO ship.
  • MEKO 140 (1985) is designed as a companion ship of MEKO 360, developed from the João Coutinho.
  • MEKO 200 (1987) is a frigate design. It evolved into the MEKO A-200 (2001) and the larger MEKO A-300 (planned for Greece and Poland).[8]
  • F123 (1994), F124 (2002), and F125 (2016) are a line of MEKO frigates developed for the German Navy.
  • K130 (2008) is a corvette designed for the German Navy using some F124 technology.
    • Isreli Sa'ar 6 (2021) is a heavily modified descendant.
  • MEKO A-100 (2019) is a current design.
    • The 2012 A-100 is a single corvette developed from the A-200.[9] It is occasionally quoted as the same as the MEKO 100 RMN (2004).
    • The current design is a family of three sizes (all heavier and longer than the 2012 A-100): corvette, light frigate, patrol corvette.[10]

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:

  • MEKO CSL (2012 website).
  • MEKO D Corvette (2012 website).[11]
  • MEKO 100 patrol corvette (2012 website). Based on both K130 and MEKO 100 patrol vessel.[12]
  • MEKO A-300 frigate based on A-200 and F-125 offered Greece and Poland[8]

Vessels
TypeClassCountryNumberDeliveryWeightLength o.a. (m)Beam (m)Draught (m)Main gunSAMASMImage
MEKO 360 H1Aradu Nigeria119813,360 tons125.8015.004.30Otobreda 127/54 CompactAspideOtomat
MEKO 360 H2Almirante Brown Argentina41983–19843,360 tons125.8015.004.30Otobreda 127/54 CompactAspideExocet
MEKO 140 A16Espora Argentina61985–20021,560 tons91.2011.003.33Otobreda 76 mm–Exocet
MEKO 200 TN IYavuz Turkey41987–19893,030 tons110.5014.204.14Mk 45 Mod 2 gunRIM-7Harpoon
MEKO 200 PNVasco da Gama Portugal31991–3,400 tons115.9014.804.10French 100 mm naval gunRIM-7Harpoon
MEKO 200 HN [13]Hydra Greece419923,360 tons117.0014.804.10Mk 45 Mod 2 gunRIM-162Harpoon
MEKO 200 TN II-ABarbaros Turkey21995–3,100 tons116.7014.804.10Mk 45 Mod 2 gunRIM-7, RIM-162Harpoon
MEKO 200 ANZACAnzac Australia
 New Zealand		8 (Aus)
2 (NZ)		1996–20043,500 tons118.0014.804.10Mk 45 Mod 4 gunRAN: RIM-162,
RNZN: RIM-7, Phalanx Block 1		RAN: Harpoon
RNZN: None
MEKO 200 TN II-BSalih Reis Turkey21998–3,100 tons118.0014.804.30Mk 45 Mod 2 gunRIM-7, RIM-162Harpoon
MEKO A-200 SANValour South Africa42003–20043,700 tons121.0016.344.40Otobreda 76 mmUmkhontoExocet
MEKO 100 RMNKedah Malaysia62004–20101,850 tons91.1012.853.40Otobreda 76 mm––
MEKO A-100ORP Ślązak Poland120192,150 tons95.2013.303.60Otobreda 76 mmGrom–
Corvette 130 (K130)Braunschweig Germany52008–1,840 tons88.7512.803.40Otobreda 76 mmRIM-116RBS-15
Frigate 123 (F123)Brandenburg Germany41994–19963,600 tons138.8516.704.35Otobreda 76 mmRIM-116, RIM-7Exocet, RBS-15
Frigate 124 (F124)Sachsen Germany32002–5,690 tons143.0017.444.86Otobreda 76 mmRIM-116, RIM-162, RIM-66Harpoon
Frigate 125 (F125)Baden-Württemberg Germany+42016-7,200 tons149.5218.805.00Otobreda 127 mmRIM-116Harpoon
MEKO A-200 ANErradi[14] Algeria+22016-3,700 tons122，16.34.4Otobreda 127 mmUmkhonto IRRBS-15
(K130-based, no official model)[15][16] Sa'ar 6  Israel 4 2020-[17] 2,000 tons 90.00 12.44 3.40 OTO Melara 76 mm Barak-8, C-Dome Harpoon
MEKO A-100 BR[18]Tamandaré Brazil42024–20283,360 tons107.2165.2OTO Melara 76 mmCAMMMANSUP
MEKO A-200EN Al-Aziz[19]  Egypt 6 2022–2025 3,700 tons 120 14.8 4.3 Otobreda 127 mm MICA NG Exocet

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. 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.
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