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(Adds details, cooperation with Norway)
BERLIN, Feb 13 (Reuters) - German Defence Minister Ursulavon der Leyen has decided to buy six MKS-180 multi-role warshipsinstead of putting off a decision on two of those ships until2030, her spokesman said on Monday.
The ministry decided last October to delay a tender for fourwarships, which was valued at 4 billion euros ($4.24 billion),to ensure that quality standards were met. A decision on twoextra warships had initially been planned in 2030.
"The need is there. Now the minister has decided to buy allsix of the required MKS-180 ships," the spokesman said, withoutproviding a new cost estimate for the programme.
The new ships, to be delivered from 2023, will be used forattacking targets on land and underwater, as well as providingaerial protection to other vessels.
The three teams bidding to build the new warships are theBremen-based shipyard Luerssen and Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems, Blohm + Voss and the Dutch group Damen shipyards, andGerman Naval Yards paired with Britain's BAE Systems,according to security sources.
Von der Leyen's decision comes against the backdrop ofincreased pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump for Germanyand other NATO countries to spend more on their own defences.
Germany is boosting military spending by nearly 2 billioneuros in 2017 to 37 billion euros, or 1.22 percent of grossdomestic product (GDP), but said it would take time to reach theNATO target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defence.
The German government, together with France, has beenpushing for greater European defence and security cooperation,especially after Britain's vote to leave the European Union.
Berlin has also deepened its bilateral military ties withthe Netherlands and Norway with recent agreements.
On Monday, Norway announced that Germany would buy navalstrike missiles from its Kongsberg Gruppen for morethan 10 billion crowns ($1.20 billion).
The German defence ministry said the two countries wouldwork together on developing the Norwegian firm's missile.
The MKS-180 ships are to be the first to be outfitted withthe new missiles, and they will become standard equipment onGerman and Norwegian frigates in the longer term.
The German minister's decision to buy all six ships will notaffect the current procurement process, with the two additionalships to be purchased under a separate lot, the spokesman said.
($1 = 0.9434 euros) (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Andrea Shalal; Editing by TomHeneghan)