Type F127 frigate

The Type F127 frigate is an ongoing procurement programme of the German Navy for the timely replacement of the previous three frigates of the Type F124 Sachsen class.

Class overview
Builders	tKMS (tkMS) NVL
Operators	German Navy
Preceded by	Sachsen class
In service	From 2033 / 2034
Planned	5 planned with 1 option
General characteristics
Type	Frigate/destroyer
Displacement	10,000 tonnes
Ice class	ICE 1C/E1
Aircraft carried	2 × NH90 Sea Tiger (ASW / ASuW)
Aviation facilities	Aircraft hangar for 2 helicopters and UAV

History

Originally, a cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Navy was planned under the programme Future Air Defender, with a letter of intent for a common ship design, radars, command systems and deployment systems signed on the 17 December 2020. The joint cooperation was later on cancelled as the requirement and timelines of both navies diverged.

The programme, is now known under the working name of "Projekt Next Generation Frigate – Air Defence" (NGFrig-AD) was initiated by the BMVg in 2018 and is currently in the analysis phase 2 under the leadership of the BAAINBw. A selection decision by the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr is scheduled for the beginning of 2025.

The plans currently call for six ships which are to arrive from 2033/34, which requires a construction contract and the procurement of the relevant operational systems by 2026 at the latest.

On September 2, 2024, the Federal Cartel Office approved the formation of a joint venture between ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH (tkMS) and NVL. The project company intends to jointly apply for the design and construction of 5 ships (+1 option) of the F127. The BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support) intends to award the contract in mid-2025.

The ship design is expected to be the MEKO A-400AMD.

Requirements

The main mission of the F127 will be to protect an operational group or area against threats from the air (Air-and-Missile-Defence (AMD)), including in the future against ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles. The ships of the F127 class are intended to be able to integrate into the effective network of ground and air-based air defence and also make a contribution to territorial missile defence for homeland security.

In addition to their primary task of air defense, the frigates will also be capable of conducting surface and underwater naval warfare, long-range combat against land targets  and operating in cyber and information space.

Ship design

Preliminary expectations

The design of the ship will be determined primarily by the weapon systems and missile launch systems and the extensive sensor technology. In terms of size and capabilities, the F127 will be based on the Arleigh Burke class (FLT III).

Dimensions

In terms of dimensions, it will likely reach 10,000 tonnes.

Systems

The combat system is expected to be the American AEGIS system, likely American SPY-6 or SPY-7 radars, and the VLS Mk.41 launch system with 64 cells (two groups of 32).

Weapons

Air-defence:

• SM-2
• SM-6 (RIM-174)
• 2 × RIM-116 RAM launchers with 21 missiles
• Potential other air defence weapons:
  • SM-3 (RIM-161) exo-atmospheric missiles
  • RIM-161 ESSM (quad pack in VLS Mk41 cells)
  • IRIS-T SLM (quad pack in VLS Mk41 cells)
  • Patriot PAC-3 MSE

Anti-ship missiles:

• 2 × Naval Strike Missiles with 4 cells each
• 3SM Tyrfing, an anti-ship and surface to surface supersonic misisle launched from Mk.41 VLS)
• Potential other missiles:
  • RGM-109E Tomahawk Block V LACM

Canons:

• OTO 127/64 LW
• 2 × Seahawk (by MSI - Defence Systems Ltd.), 30mm calibre.

Lasers:

• Rheinmetall Air Defence AG with a 20 kW beam combiner-based fibre laser.

Aircraft

The hangar carries enough space for:

• 2 × NH90 NFH Sea Tiger, which carries:
  • MBDA MARTE MK2/S
  • MU90 Impact anti-submarine torpedoes
  • On option, NSM (Naval Standard Missile)