Rheinmetall has received a contract worth several hundred million euros to modernize the German Navy’s F123-class frigate Bayern, extending its operational service through at least 2035. The work will be carried out at Rheinmetall’s Neue Jadewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven and is scheduled to continue through 2029. The service life extension will include the installation of a new combat management system, modernization of the radar suite, and upgrades to critical engineering, propulsion, and drive systems. The frigate’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities will also be improved to meet current operational requirements. Bayern, commissioned in 1996, is the third of four Brandenburg-class frigates and was primarily designed for anti-submarine missions. The 138.8-meter vessel has a displacement of about 4,900 tons and can reach speeds of up to 29 knots. The modernization is intended to maintain the frigate’s combat relevance while Germany continues developing its future naval fleet.
