German technology group Rheinmetall has been awarded the contract to modernize the F123-class frigate Bayern for the German Navy.
As part of the service life extension program, key systems of the frigate will undergo comprehensive modernisation at Rheinmetall’s Neue Jadewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven until 2029. The work includes the replacement of the combat management system (CMS), the overhaul of essential shipboard engineering systems, and the modernization of the radar sensor suite.
In addition, the propulsion and drive systems will be overhauled, while anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities will be upgraded. These measures will bring the F123-class frigate up to the latest technological standards and sustainably enhance its capabilities for future operations, according to the company.
The objective of the project is to ensure the operational readiness of the German Navy frigate, which entered service in 1996, until at least 2035 while adapting its capabilities to current operational requirements. The contract is valued in the mid-three-digit-million-euro range.
“We are now fully focused on delivering the project on schedule. The Neue Jadewerft shipyard has many years of experience in the modernization and maintenance of naval vessels – particularly frigates – and possesses extensive expertise in integrating complex maritime systems. Combined with our close cooperation with all project partners and our customer, these capabilities provide the foundation for delivering the ship to the German Navy on time and to the required quality standards,” said Tim Wagner, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems division.
The German Navy frigate Bayern is the third ship of the Brandenburg-class (F123) and was commissioned on June 15, 1996. Built by Thyssen Nordseewerke in Emden, the 138.8-meter-long vessel is primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare missions and forms part of the German Navy’s fleet of four F123 frigates.
In recent years, the F123 frigates have undergone modernization efforts, including upgrades to radar and fire-control systems to enhance their operational relevance in future missions.
The ship is currently berthed at Neue Jadewerft, where major components are being removed. Following this phase, Bayern will be transferred to the shipyard’s dry dock.