The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In- Service Support (BAAINBw) has accepted the final F125 frigate, named, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, from ARGE F125, a consortium of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and NVL-Group (Naval Vessels Lürssen). The ships are expected to provide the Navy with the units it urgently needs for its current deployment commitments. The first deployment of an F125 vessel is planned for mid-2023.
To prepare for this phase, a comprehensive support contract regarding the technical logistic support for the F125 frigates was concluded between ARGE F125 and the BAAINBw at the end of last year. The F125 class design features complex systems and around 28,000 sensors that are to enable a high degree of automation, thus making it possible to reduce the required number of crew members by about half compared to previous frigate classes. Moreover, the ships can remain in their theatre of operations for up to two years. Besides the traditional tasks of national and alliance defence, they are designed for:
- conflict prevention
- crisis management
- intervention and stabilisation operations in an international environment.
In addition to the ability to engage targets both on land and on water, they are equipped with air defence systems and helicopters.
Background to Final F125 Frigate
The contract for the construction of the four frigates became effective in June 2007. The concept, design and detailed design phases followed. Around 90 per cent of the highly complex systems on board the F125 were developed specifically for the class.
The pre-fitted bow sections were produced at the shipyards of the NVL Group in Bremen and in Wolgast on the Baltic Sea. Construction of the stern sections, the joining of the two vessel halves, further fitting-out, commissioning and trials all took place at the NVL shipyard Blohm+Voss in Hamburg.
After commissioning of the first three F125 class frigates BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG, NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN and SACHSEN-ANHALT over the last three years, RHEINLAND-PFALZ will be assigned to the 4th Frigate Squadron based in Wilhelmshaven.
JH
