Germany christens new frigate Nordrhein-Westfalen
The second of four F125 class frigates of the German Navy was christened Nordrhein-Westfalen in a ceremony at the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems facility in Hamburg on 16 April.
The first frigate was christened Baden-Württemberg in December 2013. The Nordrhein-Westfalen is expected to be handed over to the German defence procurement agency BAAINBw in mid-2018.
The contract for the four frigates is worth around $2.16 billion in total. The ARGE F125 consortium received the contract for the four F125 class ships in 2007, with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems as the lead company. Fr. Lürssen Werft shipyards are constructing the pre-fitted bow sections, while Blohm+Voss Shipyards are constructing the stern sections, joining the two sections and fitting out the ships.
The frigates will replace the 122 Bremen class frigates, eight of which are operated by the navy at present. They are designed for conflict prevention, crisis management, and international intervention and stabilisation missions.
Hans Christoph Atzpodien, CEO, ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions, said: ‘The F125 class is a completely new type of ship with innovations across numerous fields of technology. It showcases our leading engineering expertise and points the way forward for German naval shipbuilding.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
![The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement]()
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.
-
![Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?]()
Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?
Rheinmetall has unveiled its first next-generation frigate design, showing ambitions to compete as a surface combatant prime contractor. While the company is targeting North America, analysts believe the concept may be better positioned for future European programmes.
-
![US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production]()
US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production
The US Department of War’s US$76.6 billion Columbia-and Virginia-class submarine contract gives industry demand certainty as Washington seeks to rebuild its shipbuilding base.
-
![Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity]()
Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity
The UK government’s £8.4 billion Dreadnought Phase 4 investment sets aside £2.5 billion for the wider submarine supply chain, opening new work beyond BAE Systems’ prime contract.
-
![Hanwha Ocean deepens US ties and eyes Saudi submarine prospect after Canada setback]()
Hanwha Ocean deepens US ties and eyes Saudi submarine prospect after Canada setback
Hanwha Ocean is deepening ties with the US and eyeing a submarine opportunity in Saudi Arabia, as South Korea looks to convert its Canadian defeat into export momentum.
