Thyssenkrupp was notified of the exclusion from the tender process and was evaluating the reasons given, it said in a statement without elaborating.

The tender is for Germany's new MKS 180 warship, which is one of the German military's largest armament intiatives and designed to combat targets in the air, above and below water and to conduct land operations.

The military is seeking bids for the construction of four ships, with an option for an additional two. The first four would cost about 4.5 billion euros (3.98 billion pounds), according to earlier plans.

The German ministry of defence declined to comment on the exclusion, which was first reported by business newspaper Handelsblatt.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Tom Kaeckenhoff; Writing by Tom Sims; Editing by David Goodman)