Press releases

2/9/24

Support contract for F125 extended by five years

Support contract for F125 extended by five years
ARGE partners and the Bundeswehr Procurement Office rely on continuity in the support of the F125 and have confirmed their long-term cooperation

The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has extended the existing contract with ARGE F125 for the technical-logistical support (TLB) of the F125 frigate class for a further five years until 1 March 2029. The contract covers the four ships and the testing/training center (EZ/AZ F125) in Wilhelmshaven. The F125 consortium is made up of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as the lead company and the NVL Group.

Following the signing, Dr. Oliver Juckenhöfel, Head of Operating Unit Surface Vessels at thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, said: “The extension of the TLB F125 contract is a strong vote of confidence from the German customer and is proof that we have successfully proven ourselves as a system house.” The main purpose of the contract extension is to continue to support the Bundeswehr Procurement Office (BAAINBw) in maintaining the operational readiness of the F125 class ships in the face of constantly evolving requirements. “The F125 class will be the backbone of the German Navy’s operational commitments in the coming years. Ensuring the operational readiness of the ships together with the public client is an active contribution to the security policy of the Federal Republic of Germany, which we are happy to make,” Dr. Juckenhöfel added.

The frigate BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG is currently the first ship of the class to be deployed in UNIFIL operations off Lebanon (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), where it is impressively demonstrating its capabilities. Patrick Buggenthin, Program Manager ARGE F125, emphasizes the importance of the contract: “The continuation of the TLB contract is confirmation for us that the good and successful cooperation of recent years is also valued by the German customer. We look forward to continuing to support the crews and the many servicemen and women as well as employees ashore in ensuring that the ships can perform their duties and contribute towards the operational readiness of the German Navy.”

Key data – BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG class F125

  • Length: 149 m

  • Beam: 18 m

  • Top speed: > 26 kn

  • Displacement: approx. 7,200 metric tons

  • Complement: max. 190 (including up to 126 regular crew)

  • Units built: 4

1/24/24

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Thales cooperate in frigate modernization program

Four MEKO® 200 HN (Hellenic Navy) frigates have been in service with the Hellenic Navy since the mid-1990s. In order to extend the service life of the fleet, the Navy intends to commission a comprehensive modernization (mid-life upgrade). The original equipment manufacturers of the four MEKO® 200 HN frigates, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Thales, were approached for the modernization program.

Thales and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems have now joined forces to form a consortium for the planned modernization program. The consortium agreement was signed by both partners on December 12, 2023.

As part of the consortium, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is to be responsible for modernizing the ship’s platform. As a system house, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will supply not only the design documents but also the communication systems. For this purpose, a subcontract is to be awarded to Hagenuk Marinekommunikation, a subsidiary of ATLAS ELEKTRONIK. Thales will in turn provide the combat system, with the combat management system TACTICOS as its foundation, for the MEKO® 200 HN frigates and assume the role of spokesperson in the partnership consortium based in Hengelo, the Netherlands.

Oliver Burkhard, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems: "With the joint contract for the modernization of the frigates, we are once again a strong partner for the Hellenic Navy. On the one hand, this further strengthens our order book and, on the other, underlines our role and strength as a maritime powerhouse that combines electronics, surface and underwater shipbuilding under one roof. A further milestone on our road to independence of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems."

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will subcontract the ship platform modifications to a local Greek shipyard. The consortium will be the exclusive contact for the Hellenic Navy. It is expected that the order will be received in 2024.

12/15/23

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems hands over third MEKO frigate to Egyptian Navy

  • Handover ceremony for “AL-QADEER” on 15 December in Bremerhaven

  • Third of four frigates ordered by Egypt from thyssenkrupp Marine Systems

  • Construction and delivery of the frigates in record time

  • MEKO® A-200 EN vessels are among the most powerful frigates in their class

In a festive ceremony held in Bremerhaven on 15 December, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems handed over the frigate “AL-QADEER” to the Navy of the Arab Republic of Egypt. “AL-QADEER” is the third in a series of four MEKO® A-200 EN frigates. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking representatives from the Egyptian and German Navy.

Oliver Burkhard, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems highlighted: “Just six months after the handover of the second frigate, ‘AL-QAHHAR’, another state-of-the-art ship was successfully delivered to the Egyptian Navy today. The handover marks the official completion of construction of the ships in Germany, all in record time. The fourth frigate will be completed at Alexandria Shipyard in close cooperation with thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.”

Production work on “AL-QADEER” began with the first steel cutting in autumn 2020, followed by keel laying in March 2021, launching in April 2022, and naming in October 2022. In a few days, “AL-QADEER” will set sail for Alexandria, Egypt.

Vice Admiral Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa, Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Navy said: “Within only 14 months, the Egyptian Navy received the three MEKO® A-200 Frigates AL-AZIZ, AL-QAHHAR and AL-QADEER. These repeated visits for the handovers are the actual proof of the extent of cooperation and friendship between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Federal Republic of Germany. As much the Egyptian Navy is proud to acquire the MEKO® A-200 frigates, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems must also be proud for building them.

Only a few days ago, at the Egyptian Defense Exhibition EDEX 2023 in Cairo, the fourth Frigate, AL-JABBAR, was launched for an expected delivery in October 2025.”

In 2018, the Arab Republic of Egypt commissioned thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to build a total of four identical ships. The first three units – “AL-AZIZ”, “AL-QAHHAR” and “AL-QADEER” – were built in Germany, while the fourth frigate is currently under construction at Alexandria Shipyard in Egypt.

Safety first! Because we care.

When it comes to the safety of our employees, we don't joke around. At thyssenkrupp Marine Systems all colleagues should be safe. David Mißfelder, Head of Occupational Safety and Health at our Kiel shipyard told us how his team meets this challenge.

A great kick-off for our new platform

"Technology Conventions 2020“ in Kiel this week! With naval specialists from #MarineSystems and selected suppliers, the first technology discussion focused on REP-floors - standardized floor plates for #submarines and #surfacevessels. Insights from #Engineering and Supply Chain Management as well as field reports from our #SeaTrial team laid the foundation for the joint workshops sharing the latest functional and strategic trends in the marine systems industry. We are looking forward to the next "Technology Conventions“ this summer for more exciting dialogues on #innovation, #digitalization and marine technology. Attendance by invitation only. To participate, please reach out to our colleagues at Techcon2020.tkms@thyssenkrupp.com.

Cem Selvi and his team make trainees fit for the shipyard

People come first: Cem Selvi and the training team at the Kiel shipyard educate and support their apprentices and dual students from start to finish of their training at #thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and weld the young people together as a team! #career

ADLiS® - The New Dimension in Network-based Operations. For all Nations.

It's simply a tactical decision. #ADLiS® is the #data link system from our experts at #AtlasElektronik. It opens up new dimensions in network-based operations by combining all information at the highest speed and enabling the #tactical situation to be recorded. It links people, platforms, sensors and weapons. This greatly increases the command speed and the combat strength of the entire unit.

Today, Germany's most modern

#frigate was put into service and officially commissioned: The F125 "Nordrhein-Westfalen“. The ship is the second of a total of four frigates which are available to the #GermanNavy. Their strength lies not only in fulfilling the traditional tasks of national and alliance defence, but also in their design for conflict prevention and crisis management as well as intervention and stabilization operations on an international scale. We look forward to the handing over of the third and fourth ships which are planned to take place successively until 2021. #BadenWürttembergKlasse

On today’s #IntellectualPropertyDay,

we are celebrating 125 years of patent history at @thyssenkrupp. Every year, thyssenkrupp developers file #patents for about 600 new #inventions worldwide. On our way to become the most modern naval company in Europe, we at @thyssenkrupp Marine Systems are working on new innovations every day. For example, when developing an underwater vehicle that prevents unnecessary by-catch and saves the ecology of oceans around the world: https://lnkd.in/dBFJc4T

A new standard for unmanned underwater operations:

The Modifiable Underwater Mothership (MUM). Today, we proudly presented the results of a pioneering research project on large modular underwater vehicles. Designed in collaboration with project partners from science and industry, MUM could now permanently change the way #underwater research is conducted. The high-tech asset for the civil #maritimeindustry is powered by a state-of-the-art, emission-free fuel cell. Independent of wind and weather, MUM can operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Norbert Brackmann, German government coordinator for the maritime industry, visited our shipyard in Kiel to experience the project progress and the technological innovations developed by our maritime experts. To further the research, we will now apply for funding for a MUM large-scale demonstrator as part of the Economic Ministry’s Maritime Research Programme.

Fascination deep sea: Autonomous submarines tap previously unexplored seabed

On our way to become the most modern #naval company in Europe, we think beyond known waters. With #SeaCat our engineeres set out to explore the world's sea beds – a mystery to mankind. The unmanned #submarine, uses underwater mapping and footage to provide new insights into the mysterious world #underwater.