In the near future, the German Navy will accept new K130 corvettes of the Braunschweig type. The Bundeswehr already operates five ships of this project, which became part of the Navy in the period from 2008 to 2013. The construction of five more corvettes of this model indicates the recognition of its suitability, proven in numerous combat services.
Corvette F262 " Erfurt"
The new corvettes - the customer and the contractor
On September 12, 2017, the Federal Office for Armaments, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) and the K130 production consortium (Arbeitsgemeinschaft, ARGE K130) signed a contract for the construction and purchase of an additional five ships of the K130 Braunschweig project.
The new corvettes are basically identical to those built earlier and are copies of them. However, experts say the regulatory landscape has changed over the years. In particular, this applies to IT security, occupational safety and environmental protection. In addition, the further development of technology in conjunction with the obsolescence of equipment and devices requires adjustments, especially in relation to the combat weapon control system (Fuhrungs-und Waffeneinsatzsystem, fuwes).
In Russian terminology, the designation "combat information and control system"-BIUS - is used for such equipment
New corvettes from the sixth to the tenth are being built again by the ARGE K130 consortium. However, its composition has changed. In the execution of the order will take part: "Fr. Lürssen Group" (Fr. Lürssen Gruppe), Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH) and a new partner "Germain Nevel Yards Kiel GmbH" (German Naval Yards Kiel GmbH). The main contractor and head of the production association is Fr. Lürssen Gruppe.
Corvette F264 "Ludwigshafen" at the shipyard " Lurssen"
The production of body parts will take place at different enterprises. Of the five bow parts of the ship, two will be manufactured at the Lürssen shipyard in Bremen, and three at the GNYK shipyard in Kiel. Five aft parts will be assembled at the Peene-Werft plant in Wolgast (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). The subsequent docking of the bow and stern, called the "wedding", will take place in Hamburg at the shipyard owned by the group "Lürssen Blohm und Voss" (Lürssen Blohm + Voss). It also assumes the final equipment and verification of the functionality of the ships.
The construction contract, in addition to design services and production, includes the integration of all systems and equipment, as well as the necessary adaptation and supply of ground-based training complexes.
Corvette "Oldenburg" on " Peene-Werft»
K130 corvettes of the Bundeswehr Navy-purpose and features
The K130 corvette, as a weapon system, was developed 20 years ago to participate in global multinational and interspecies missions in coastal seas. Then it was planned to participate in the ship's operational groups and interact with boats.
Over the past period, the operational portfolio of corvettes has expanded and changed. Starting from participation in peacekeeping operations, it included the fight against international terrorism and rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, the ships of the project are regularly part of the permanent operational groups of the NATO Naval Forces.
According to Western publications, the concept of combat use of the ship includes participation in a sea surface war of the highest intensity (the main task).
PU Mk3 with RBS15 missiles on board the corvette
The corvette is capable of entering coastal waters from the open sea and effectively suppressing targets on the shore. It is equipped with the RBS15 Mk3 missile, designed to hit heavy sea and land targets. Currently, the K130 contributes its share to the overall combat capability The German Navy, with regard to impacts from sea to land during the inter-service operation.
The combat capabilities of corvettes provide their flexible application. The ships are capable of operating independently at a distance from the main forces or successfully interacting as part of a ship's compound.
Tactical and technical characteristics
According to experts, the corvette is characterized by stable behavior at sea, high mobility and sufficient sea endurance. The ship has good capabilities for conducting reconnaissance and maintaining communications, and has also demonstrated increased resilience and readiness for action in a combat situation.
External dimensions of the ship: length 89.40 m, displacement 1840 t, maximum speed 26 knots-meet the criteria for global application. The corvette allows you to stay at sea or operate in the operational zone for up to seven days without resupply. When resupplying without entering the port, for example, with the help of a supply transport or tanker, the autonomy of staying at sea increases to 21 days.
A special feature of the Braunschweig project is the small number of crew (only 61 people), which is compensated by a high degree of automation of various processes of combat and daily activities. As noted by German shipbuilders, the Navies of other countries, operating ships similar in size and comparable in range of capabilities, use crews numbering from 110 to 120 people. At the same time, the standards of personnel placement are much worse.
Design features
All information operational departments of the corvette, including the combat control post (Operationszentrale, OPZ), are used as "light rooms" (without darkening). It is believed that this solution increases the concentration of crew members on official duties and promotes cooperation between workplaces. The K130 combat control post is comparable in size and equipment to similar posts of modern frigates.
K130 combat control post
The design of the ship has a flight deck and a hangar for storing two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The flight deck, in addition to ensuring the operation of the drone, guarantees the landing and take-off of the helicopter. The use of the corvette as an intermediate platform provides multiple options for the use of combat helicopters in operations with other units and types of armed forces.
For ships of early construction, the possibility of using up to two UAVs of the Camcopter S-100 type from the Austrian companySchiebelwas considered. However, it did not actually come to the purchase of UAVs. In the near future, from 2019, integration with the unmanned aerial system (Unmanned Aerial Systems) UMS Skeldar V-200 of Swiss production is planned.
Initially, the new UAV will be equipped with odnin K130. As the experience of operating this system is accumulated, in the following years each of the ten K130 will receive such a UAV. The development of the new equipment will take place within the framework of the program "Exploration and identification in the maritime operational zone" ("Aufklärung und Identifikation im maritimen Einsatzgebiet", aimeg). In the future, UAVs will become an analog of an onboard helicopter. Their use is planned to be assigned to the personnel of the 3rd aviation squadron of the German Navy. The drone's control equipment with antennas and consoles remains on board the ship.
UMS Skeldar V-200 UAV
Information support and process automation
The information and control complex of the corvette includesan Integrated Monitoring and Control System (IMCS), a combat control system (Combat Direction System, CDS) and a communications management system (Kommunikationsmanagementsystem, KMS).
The combination of these systems supports automation of almost all technical and operational processes on board the K130, as well as accurate mapping of the internal and external environment. Automatic repetition of the situation picture and tracking of changes in the threat situation guarantee a high response of combat systems to defeat sea, land and air targets. The complex integration of these systems into a network provides the necessary information for decision-making in real time throughout the ship.
Control systems of the ship
Automation of ship equipment allows the home port to carry out the necessary connections of external equipment to the ship for port operation with low involvement of additional personnel. At the same time, the control of the event is carried out technically remotely through a central control post on land or a bridge on board another K130. According to experts, such an organization of work saves the service time of the crew and creates prerequisites for its use for training, combat and operational training.
New corvettes-adaptation, updating, development
The new corvettes will reportedly receive updated combat weapon control systems.
A corresponding agreement was reached between ARGE K130 and a consortium of Atlas Elektronikand Thales Deutschland. Along with the equipment of the five ships, the order includes the supplyof a test and training center to the Naval Support Command ( Marineunterstützungskommando) atthe Wilhelmshaven NavalBase.
The existing software with the necessary settings to ensure IT security and the separation of information flows is planned to be installed on a completely updated hardware platform. The expansion of opportunities is mostly not planned. Only a limited functional change is planned where the replacement of the components of the BIUS is necessary to eliminate the shortcomings identified during operation or due to the obsolescence of the elements. The customer requires the achievement of full operational readiness of the system, both in terms of operability, and IT and radiation safety.
Weapon control post
Weapon system project "Braunsweig" developed at the end of the last century. According to experts, since then, regulatory norms have changed in many ways. This applies both to the new requirements of the Bundeswehr, laws and security standards of the military service, as well as to the rapid development of technologies and changes in the market for products integrated on board.
The Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik) has defined essential framework conditions for IT security that are mandatory for the Bundeswehr. In particular, modern high-performance real-time filters are required to separate data streams already at the level of Internet Protocol packets. In addition, a variety of international missions require a strict separation of information related to the mission itself and data transmitted by the Bundeswehr Navy's national control system.
In the future, it is planned to integrate on board a self-sufficient system for the standard application of software products (Standard Anwendungs Software Produkt Familien, SASPF), as well as the Naval IT support system "German Mission Network 2" (German Mission Network 2). Separately, the possibility of installing access points separate from service lines for personal IT devices of the crew is being worked out. The goal is to increase the attractiveness of serving in the Navy by meeting the need for broader, private electronic communication with family and friends.
Weapon system and overall design
The new K130 corvettes will receive the following visually visible weapons and equipment systems:
- rotating radar TRS 4D production "Hensolt" (HENSOLDT);
- EW control system ESM / ECM RIGEL (Electronic Support/Counter Measures, Russian-electronic support/countermeasures) from the company "Indra" (Indra). The system is a fully digitized modification of the UL5000K electronic warfare system in service with the first K130;
- fire control system Mk2 from the company "Thales" (Thales). A fully digitized version of the Mirador SSM available on board);
- gun OTO 76/62 Super Rapid production of the Italian "Leonardo" (Leonardo). The gun is recognized by the signature-optimized "angular" dome;
- adlis multi-channel communication system (supplied with F125 frigates, and in the future it is planned to be installed on F124 frigates.
SUO Mirador (left) and an element of the EW complex UL5000K (right). Source: invoen.ru
The increased need for space for future 71 crew members is achieved through a targeted transformation of the layout of the premises and changes in the order of their use. Thus, the new corvettes will not receive libraries, since today Internet content and e-books are used as printed products. This made it possible, in addition to increasing the number of crew (the need arose from the experience of operating the first five ships of the project), to place a UAV maintenance team (UAS-Teams) on board.
According to the publications, the new corvettes will receive a differently designed bridge equipped with modern and advanced navigation systems. From the elements of the ship's equipment, the sewage treatment plant and equipment for turbo-replacement of cold water, the ship's safety modules and the mass evacuation system will be updated.
In particular, it is planned to replace the existing motor rescue boats and 6.25-meter boats with incoming ones. German Navy lifeboats with a hull length of 7.5 m.In addition, many smaller models of products that are no longer produced are subject to renewal.
Bridge of the corvette K130
Time plan
The new corvettes are planned to be delivered to the customer in the period from the end of 2022 to 2025. Functional testing of the sixth ship is scheduled for 2021. Compared to subsequent platforms, it will be longer. During the test, it is planned to conduct various tests and confirm the new construction configuration only once for all ships of the series.
In this project, the Bundeswehr attaches special importance to the organization of production. The task is to integrate resource management and necessary electronic documentation with the logistics system of the armed forces. The goal is to increase the availability of ships both during operation and during repairs, maintenance and provision of spare parts.
In the future, all ten K130 corvettes will operate in a common system of maintenance and repair. For this purpose, it is planned to deploy a single procedure for accepting new equipment for the project ships. The transition to its introduction will reportedly begin shortly after the successful completion of proof-of-concept testing of the first new K130.
Based on the materials of the magazine"Europäische Sicherheit & Technik»
