Rheinmetall has secured a contract worth several hundred million euros to extend the operational life of the German Navy’s F123-class frigate Bayern until at least 2035. The modernization will be carried out at Rheinmetall’s Neue Jadewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven and is scheduled to continue through 2029. The program will introduce a new combat management system while upgrading the frigate’s radar, engineering, propulsion, and drive systems. Its anti-submarine warfare capabilities will also be enhanced to meet current operational requirements. Commissioned in 1996, Bayern is the third of four Brandenburg-class F123 frigates and was originally designed primarily for anti-submarine missions. The 138.8-meter warship displaces about 4,900 tons and can reach speeds of up to 29 knots using its combined diesel-or-gas propulsion system. The service-life extension is intended to maintain the frigate’s combat relevance while Germany develops and introduces newer naval platforms.
