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German Navy News

28 Feb 2024

German Warship Shoots Down Two Drones in the Red Sea

(Photo: Yvonne Albert, courtesy Bundeswehr / Leon Rodewald)

A German warship shot down two drones in the Red Sea on Tuesday amid escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthis and efforts by the European Union to protect international shipping, German officials said.Shipping risks have increased due to repeated strikes by the Iran-aligned Houthis in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war.U.S. and British forces have responded with several airstrikes on Houthi facilities but have so far failed to halt the attacks.The German navy frigate Hessen…

11 Dec 2023

MAN ES Wins Deal to Power ASW-Frigates

Damen Naval has contracted MAN Energy Solutions to supply the propulsion diesel engines and the diesel generator sets for the new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates. Image courtesy Damen Naval

Damen Naval has contracted MAN Energy Solutions to supply the propulsion diesel engines and the diesel generator sets for the new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates. The order consists of eight MAN 20V28/33D STC Marine Engines and sixteen variable speed 16V175D-MEV Naval generator sets with sound enclosure and plant auxiliaries. The agreement also includes Integrated Logistic Support for the four new frigates being designed and built for the Netherlands and Belgium.It is the second co-operation between the companies in just over a year…

06 Dec 2023

Construction Begins on First F126 Frigates for the German Navy

(Image: Damen)

Damen Naval and project partner NVL Group held a steel cutting ceremony at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast, Germany for the first new multipurpose frigates for the German Navy.“We are proud to be able to start cutting steel entirely on schedule on December 5. We were able to complete the development phase in record time, something that is partly due to the excellent cooperation with BAAINBW, the Navy and the other German authorities,” said Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen.

28 Nov 2023

ABB to Power Spanish Navy Submarine Rescue Vessel

Source: ABB

ABB has secured an order with Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company Navantia to supply the Spanish Navy’s forthcoming submarine rescue vessel, Poseidon, with high-performance, DC-based power and distribution.Following the delivery scheduled for 2026, the vessel will be the first of its kind equipped with this system. The ship will be responsible for executing and supporting submarine missions, including diving operations, intervention and rescue in accidents and shipwrecks and underwater surveillance…

22 Sep 2023

Next-Gen Naval Defense: Laser Weapon System Takes Aim at Drones, Missiles and More

Credit: MBDA

Laser Weapon Demonstrator (LWD) trials onboard the German frigate Sachsen have successfully been completed, following on from the integration of the LWD in June 2022, MBDA, a multi-national European group specializing in the field of complex weapon system.The High-Energy Laser Naval Demonstrator Working Group (or ARGE), consisting of MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall, is responsible for development and construction of the LWD, and for supporting the trials that were planned and organized by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment…

01 Sep 2023

Baltic Sea Drills to Focus for First Time on Repelling Russian Attack

© Wojciech Wrzesień / Adobe Stock

Major naval drills about to start in the Baltic Sea involving some 30 ships and more than 3,000 Western service members will for the first time practice how to respond to a Russian assault in the region, Germany's navy chief said on Friday."We are sending a clear message of vigilance to Russia: Not on our watch," Vice-Admiral Jan Christian Kaack told reporters in Berlin. "Credible deterrence must include the ability to attack."The two-week Northern Coasts exercise, set to start Sep 9…

03 Nov 2022

German Navy Helping Norway Protect Offshore Oil Rigs, Pipelines

German Navy ships next to Troll A platform in Norway. ©German Navy

The German navy is helping Norway to protect critical maritime infrastructure such as oil rigs, undersea cables, and pipelines, and is ready to do the same off the Danish and Swedish coasts, its head said on Thursday. Bordering Russia in the north, Norway is Europe's biggest producer of natural gas and oil and has an extremely long coast that is hard to protect. It operates an extensive network of pipelines that connect the country with Britain and Europe. NATO has pledged to…

07 Oct 2022

Nord Stream Gas 'Sabotage': Who's Being Blamed and Why?

The gas leak from the Nord Stream gas pipeline measured over 950 meters in diameter. - Credit: Swedish Coast Guard

Major leaks that suddenly erupted in the Nord Stream gas pipelines that run from Russia to Europe under the Baltic Sea have generated plenty of theories but few clear answers about who or what caused the damage.Here is what we know and what has been said so far:WHO IS BEING BLAMED?As probes by European authorities continue, the Swedish security police said on Thursday that suspicions of gross sabotage on the pipelines had been strengthened following a crime scene investigation.

24 Jun 2022

German Government Offers to Buy Rostock Shipyard for Navy

© Rico Ködder / Adobe Stock

The German government made an offer to buy the insolvent MV Werften's Rostock shipyard for its navy, a defense ministry spokesperson said on Friday, in a move to top up capacities for repairing and servicing war ships.Germany, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has been scrambling to bring its military back in shape after decades of attrition following the Cold War.In a major policy shift, Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged in February to sharply increase defense spending, including an initial 100 billion euro ($106 billion) fund to fill gaps in weapons and other military equipment.The d

10 Jun 2022

Thyssenkrupp Acquires MV Werften's Wismar Shipyard

(File photo courtesy MV Werften)

Thyssenkrupp's defense division hopes to start building for the German navy from 2024 at a shipyard in Wismar, northern Germany, once owned by insolvent MV Werften, its head said on Friday after it bought the site.Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a policy shift after decades of attrition of Germany's armed forces, pledged in February after Russia invaded Ukraine to sharply increase defence spending, including an initial 100 billion euro ($106 billion) fund.Thyssenkrupp Chief Executive Martina Merz said last month that decision was "beneficial" to its marine services division (TKMS), which said on Fr

25 Jan 2022

Rolls-Royce to Deliver Automation Solutions for New German Navy Frigates

(Image: Damen)

Rolls-Royce's Power Systems business unit, headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany, will deliver the automation solutions (in German FüSAS – Führungssystem Automation Schiffstechnik) for the four new F126 frigates for the German Navy.Damen Naval is building the four F126 class frigates together with its partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, after the partners were selected as successful bidders in 2020 following a European tender process spanning several years. The first ship is expected to be delivered to the German Navy in Hamburg in 2028.

07 Oct 2021

OSI to Provide Bridge Management Systems for German Navy Frigates

Artist Rendering of OSI Maritime Systems’ Integrated Bridge Management System for the F126 Program (Image: OSI)

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) announced it has been selected by Damen Naval to provide a navigation suite to the Federal German Navy’s F126 program. The contract includes Integrated Bridge Management Systems (IBMS) for the frigates and land-based test and training sites (Landanlage), all powered by ECPINS.ECPINS forms the heart of OSI’s IMO type-approved Integrated Navigation System - MSC 252(83), and is a leading WECDIS among NATO and Allied navies. Already 80% compliant to STANAG 4564 Edition 3…

15 Sep 2021

China Denies German Warship Entry into Harbor

The Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Alamgir (F 260), German Navy frigate FGS Bayern (F 217), and guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) sail in formation during a passing exercise (PASSEX) in the Arabian Sea, Sept. 6, 2021. (Photo: Rawad Madanat / U.S. Navy)

China has denied a German warship entry into a local harbor, a German foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.The ship involved is the "Bayern" frigate, the spokesperson told a news briefing, but did not identify the Chinese harbor. The vessel set sail from Germany last month for a six-month mission to the South China Sea."China has decided that it does not want a harbor visit, and we took notice of that," the spokesperson said.China's defense and foreign ministries did…

10 Jun 2021

Enterprise Revisited: Titanium is the USCG Vessel Procurement Magic Bullet

Evaluating a 260-m trimaran sealift ship, comparing the cost of a titanium vessel with a steel vessel, found that the acquisition cost of the titanium vessel would be $2.3B compared to $1.5B for a steel ship. However, the lifecycle savings of the titanium vessel would be $2.74B. In other words, once you build the first vessel in titanium, with the savings you can build the next vessel for free. That is called a two-fer!
Photo By Aleksander/AdobeStock

In my May 2020 MREN USS Enterprise column I made a reference to the benefits of titanium as a hull structural material.It related to the life of the USCG cutter Bear and I concluded the column with a suggestion that titanium would be a particularly useful and cost-effective structural material for sail training vessels, aircraft carriers, research vessels, cruise vessels, tugs and Staten Island ferries. I made this suggestion assuming that the hull design (shape) would have to be mature…

29 Apr 2021

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle Gearing Up for Summer Training

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast's training barque is gearing up to begin summer training for more than 130 Coast Guard Academy cadets.At 295 feet in length, the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, known as “America’s Tall Ship,” is the largest tall ship flying the U.S. flag and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.Scheduled to depart New London, Conn. on Saturday, May 8, Eagle will resume foreign port calls for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.“We are extremely excited to be getting back underway for a full summer training season,” said Capt.

02 Jul 2020

iXblue Nav Systems Chosen for Gowind Warships

(Photo: Naval Group)

iXblue said it has been selected by Naval Group to supply navigation systems for two Gowind corvettes intended for the international market. These two future combat corvettes will be fitted with Marins navigation systems and Netans data distribution and processing units.Based on fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) technology, iXblue navigation solutions already equip more than 650 surface ships and underwater platforms in 40 navies and coast guards, including major programs such as the French Navy's future FDI…

19 Jun 2020

Damen-led Consortium Awarded Contract to Build German Navy Frigates

(Image: Damen)

Damen Shipyards Group and the German Bundesamt fur Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr on Friday signed the contract for the construction of four MKS-180 frigates for the German Navy. Damen is the main contractor for this complex project which it is undertaking, together with partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, in Germany.The combination of companies was previously declared the winner of a European tender; the largest in the history of the German Navy. On June 17, the necessary financial resources were released by the German Bundestag budget committee.

14 Jun 2019

Defense Show Set for Denmark in September

Major naval and maritime exhibition set for Copenhagen Sept. 3-6, 2019; MAST NOCO 2019 will be the biggest military conference in Denmark everThe maritime world will meet at MAST NOCO 2019 in Copenhagen September 3-6, 2019. MAST, which stands for Maritime Systems and Technologies, encompasses a series of global conference and exhibitions. The year’s MAST NOCO 2019, which takes place at the same time as the Northern Coasts (NOCO) 2019 multinational naval exercises, will be the biggest military equipment exhibition and conference ever held in Denmark.

23 Jul 2018

HMK Scoops Major Naval Comms Order

ATLAS ELEKTRONIK subsidiary Hagenuk Marinekommunikation (HMK) has been commissioned by the “ARGE K130 2nd Batch” consortium to supply integrated communication systems for units 6 to 10 of the Type K130 corvettes for the German Navy.The scope of supply includes radios of the complete telecommunications spectrum from 10 kHz to 20 GHz, which enable information to be exchanged with other ships, boats or shore stations via special input devices in the form of voice and data radio. These intelligent communication systems offer users the greatest possible support in their tasks and thus make a significant contribution to the reliable operation of ships and their crews.

21 Jun 2018

Combat Systems Ordered for German K130 Corvettes

ATLAS ELEKTRONIK and Thales Deutschland have jointly been commissioned to deliver the combat system of the German Class K130 Corvette. The order comprises five corvettes as well as the Test and Training Centre (EZ/BUZ) in Wilhelmshaven.With completion scheduled for 2025, the FüWES K130 consortium formed by the two companies and led by ATLAS ELEKTRONIK will deliver the combat system hardware and also adapt and update the existing Combat Management System software of the K130, first batch (ships 1-5).The contracted solution for ships 6-10 is identical to the original contract (2003) for the K130, first batch. In line with the re-build requirement, changes in the solution are only related to obsolescence and compliancy with German regulations.

12 Sep 2018

New Strategies to Guard Against Future Security Threats

©Hamburg Messe und Congress, Rolf Otzipka

The international conference on maritime security and defense (MS&D), held for the seventh time in Hamburg during the SMM maritime trade fair, focused on current and future challenges to maritime security and defense. Twenty naval, industrial and science experts discussed topics such as how to protect international ocean trading routes, when and how to deploy naval forces on crisis missions, as well as cyber security issues.The welcome address opened the event with somber words as Rear Admiral Thorsten Kähler…

24 May 2019

Kiel Builds First New Corvette for Israel

The launching of the new corvette “Ins Magen” in Kiel marks an important step in the ongoing program of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as general contractor to build four next-generation SA’AR-6 class missile vessels for the Israeli Navy.The ship was named by Mrs. Eti Sharvit, wife of Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit, Chief of the Israeli Navy, in presence of high-level representatives from the Israeli Government and Navy as well as high-ranking German Navy officials.Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems: "We are very proud to be contributing to Israel's security. The corvettes are the most advanced and most sizeable vessels that ever served in the Israeli Navy.

17 Apr 2018

German Shipbuilding: A Strong Vessel in a Heavy Sea

Launching of the W.B.Yeats at FSG. (Photo courtesy ©FSG)

While orders for new vessels have continued to decline worldwide in 2017, the situation in the German and European shipbuilding market is different, with an increase of incoming orders. As shipping experts state: “…this is not a trend but a snapshot, but it indicates a high competitiveness of the German shipbuilding industry, particularly on technologically advanced projects.”The global mood barometer of the maritime industry had reached its lowest point in 2016. From the abyss confidence and order have carefully increased…