 Portugal operates three ships of this class, which were built in Kiel by Blohm + Voss and later by HDW, using modular construction techniques.These vessels are unique in the MEKO 200 family as they are the only ones equipped with the French 100mm naval gun as their main gun.The project for the construction of three frigates of this class was authorized by the Portuguese Government in 1985, five years after the request of the Portuguese Navy for the acquisition of new surface ships.