The Type F127 frigate is an ongoing procurement programme of the German Navy for the timely replacement of the previous three frigates of the Type F124 Sachsen class.

Originally, a cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Navy was planned under the programme Future Air Defender, with a letter of intent for a common ship design, radars, command systems and deployment systems signed on 17 December 2020. The joint cooperation was later on cancelled as the requirement and timelines of both navies diverged.The programme, is now known under the working name of Projekt Next Generation Frigate – Air Defence (NGFrig-AD) was initiated by the BMVg in 2018 and is currently in the analysis phase 2 under the leadership of the BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support). A selection decision by the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr is scheduled for the beginning of 2025.

The plans currently call for six ships which are to arrive from 2033/34, which requires a construction contract and the procurement of the relevant operational systems by 2026 at the latest.

On 2 September 2024, the Federal Cartel Office approved the formation of a joint venture between ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH (now TKMS) and NVL . The project company intends to jointly apply for the design and construction of 5 ships (+1 option) of the F127. The BAAINBw intends to award the contract in mid-2025.

The ship design is expected to be the MEKO A-400AMD.

On December 18, 2025, it was reported that the capacity was to be expanded to 96 VLS cells. In this context, questions arose as to whether the classification of this class of ship as a frigate still applied, or whether it was already a destroyer design.