A scandal has erupted in Germany over an incident on board the newest corvette Emden, which has not yet been handed over to the country's navy. As reported by Sueddeutsche Zeitung in a joint investigation with the broadcasters WDR and NDR, metal shavings were found on board the vessel, poured into the engine. 

According to the publication, the sabotage was discovered in mid-January this year, just a few days before the ship's first sailing. Experts believe that if the shavings had gone unnoticed, it could have caused serious damage to the engine, which would have delayed the ship's commissioning for a long time and jeopardized the entire project. 

Representatives of the German Navy and the Ministry of Defense have already launched an investigation into the incident. It remains unclear who might have been involved in the sabotage and for what purpose the attack was carried out. The agencies are considering all versions, including sabotage during the construction phase or actions by third parties with access to the equipment. 

The corvette Emden is one of five K130 class vessels ordered by the German Navy under a contract worth around €2 billion. The ships are equipped with advanced control and weapons systems and are designed for patrol, reconnaissance and countering surface threats. 

Experts note that sabotage at this level is an extremely rare event for the German navy. No such incidents have been recorded before, which makes the situation even more resonant. If the ship's engine had actually failed, it would not only have delayed deliveries, but would have dealt a serious blow to the reputation of the entire German defense industry. 

Engine damage could have required costly repairs and replacement of key components, experts say. Given the complexity of the systems modern corvettes are equipped with, it could have taken months to repair.