Rheinmetall to Modernize German Navy's F123 Frigate
Rheinmetall has secured a contract to modernize the German Navy's F123-class frigate BAYERN. The upgrade, valued in the mid-three-digit million euro range, aims to ensure the vessel's operational capability until at least 2035.
Rheinmetall has been awarded a contract to modernize the German Navy's F123-class frigate BAYERN, a 143-meter vessel commissioned in 1996. The order, placed at the end of the second quarter of 2026, is valued in the mid-three-digit million euro range.
The modernization effort, to be carried out at Rheinmetall's Neue Jadewerft facility in Wilhelmshaven, is intended to ensure the frigate's operational readiness until at least 2035 and adapt its capabilities to current requirements. The work is scheduled for completion by 2029.
Key systems to undergo upgrades include the command and weapons engagement system, ship's technical facilities, and radar sensors. The project also involves overhauling propulsion systems and retrofitting essential anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
This contract underscores the strategic importance of the service business for Rheinmetall's Naval Systems division. Long-term maintenance, modernization, and lifecycle support are central to the company's portfolio, ensuring the operational readiness of complex naval systems for decades to come.