The project aims to keep the frigate fully operational until at least 2035, while updating its capabilities to meet current operational needs.
Rheinmetall has been awarded a contract to modernise the FGS Bayern, the third ship in the German Navy’s Type 123 Brandenburg-class frigate fleet, with work set to commence following the second quarter of 2026.
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The overhaul aims to keep the vessel operational until at least 2035, adapting it to contemporary naval requirements, the company said in a 31 July release.
Under the scope of the service life extension programme, the FGS Bayern will undergo extensive upgrades at the Neue Jadewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven through 2029.
The contract is valued in the mid-three-digit million euro range.
The frigate, which entered service in 1996, will benefit from modernised technology in several core systems.
Key work will include replacing the existing Combat Management System, overhauling essential ship engineering components and upgrading the radar sensor suite.
Rheinmetall also plans to carry out updates on the propulsion and drive systems, alongside targeted improvements to the ship’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.
According to the company, these upgrades are intended to align the FGS Bayern with modern operational requirements and sustain its deployability for the coming decade.
The project underscores the strategic role of Rheinmetall’s service business in the Naval Systems division, which oversees long-term maintenance and lifecycle support for complex naval platforms.
Rheinmetall naval systems division CEO Tim Wagner said: “We are now fully focused on delivering the project on schedule. The Neue Jadewerft shipyard has many years of experience in the modernisation and maintenance of naval vessels – particularly frigates – and possesses extensive expertise in integrating complex maritime systems.
“Combined with our close cooperation with all project partners and our customer, these capabilities provide the foundation for delivering the ship to the German Navy on time and to the required quality standards.”
The frigate, presently berthed at Neue Jadewerft, is undergoing an initial phase of component removal ahead of transfer to the shipyard’s dry dock.
The German Navy’s Type 123 Brandenburg-class frigates are 138.9 metres long, with a displacement of 4,700 tonnes and a top speed of 29 knots when powered by gas turbines.
Operating on diesel engines, the vessels can achieve a range of 4,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots. Each ship typically carries a crew of 118, including 19 aircrew.
As originally built, the ships were armed with two twin launchers for MM38 Exocet surface-to-surface missiles from Aérospatiale, featuring inertial guidance, active radar homing, and a range of 42km.
For air defense, a Lockheed Martin Mk41 Mod 3 vertical launch system was fitted, holding 16 Nato Sea Sparrow medium-range surface-to-air missiles.
