INFOGRAPHICS #49: Mid-Life Upgrade of Brandenburg-class frigates

Frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Kiel. Photo: D-Mitch

On July 30, 2021, Saab signed a contract with the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), and has received an order to deliver and integrate new naval radars and fire control directors for and in the German Navy’s Frigates of the Brandenburg-Class (F123). The contract includes a new combat management system in order to completely overhaul the system currently in use on the F123, allowing a low risk integration of the new naval radars and fire control capabilities. The order value is approximately 4,6 billion SEK. Deliveries and other services will take place between 2021 and 2030. Saab will be the prime contractor and will contract the German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen for the shipbuilding work while the German company ESG will carry out logistical support.

 

Modernized Brandenburg-class (F123) frigate of the German Navy. HR image here

Harpoon SSM launchers of frigate Bayern

"We are proud that Germany has selected Saab as the combat system provider and integrator for the frigates to be overhauled. We look forward to contributing to strengthening Germany’s domestic combat systems integration capability, creating a high proportion of value and service provision in Germany. This contract will further strengthen our relationship with Germany for many years to come," says Micael Johansson, Saab’s President and CEO. The contract includes delivery and integration of Saab's 9LV CMS, Sea Giraffe 4A (will replace LW-08) and Sea Giraffe 1X (will replace SMART-S) radars (Sea Giraffe Multi Sensor Solution), Ceros 200 (will replace STIR) FCR as well as third party systems, including IFF capability. Note that new Pohjanmaa-class corvettes of the Finnish Navy, will be equipped also with the Sea Giraffe Multi Sensor Solution, which features Sea Giraffe 1X and a fixed-face version of Sea Giraffe 4A. 

 

Helmsand, one of the trial and evaluation platforms for
new equipment in use by Bundeswehr here testing
new IFF radar to be integrated with F123s

The German contract also includes a comprehensive, performance-based logistics package supporting the frigates’ operational capabilities. Saab will carry out the work in Germany, Sweden and Australia. The MLU will include also NLWS, TDLs, C-ESM and other subsystems. The ships will be fitted with NSM SSM in the future that will replace the Harpoon ones (replaced the obsolete MM38 Exocet).

Source: https://www.saab.com