On July 30, 2021, the German Federal Defense Procurement Agency Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) issued contracts to the Swedish group Saab AB for a total of 4.6 billion Swedish kronor (about 450 million euros) for the supply of new electronic weapons for the modernization of four frigates of Project 123 (F123, Brandenburg type) of the German Navy. Deliveries and work, including subsequent technical support, will be carried out from 2021 to 2030.
Image of the design image of the modernized frigate project 123 (F123, Brandenburg type) of the German Navy with the installed radio-electronic systems of the Swedish Saab AB group (c) Saab AB
Four frigates of Project 123 (F 215 Brandenburg, F 216 Schleswig-Holstein, F 217 Bayern and F 218 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) were introduced into the German fleet in 1994-1996, and now they should be commissioned after medium repairs and modernization in 2024-2027, which will extend their service life by another 10-15 years. The repair and modernization of Project 123 frigates will be carried out by the German company Abeking & Rasmussen.
The Saab Group should supply the automated combat control system Saab 9LV Combat Management System, new Sea Giraffe 4A and Sea Giraffe 1X radar stations, the Ceros 200 fire control system for the modernized frigates and, as the main contractor for the modernization, ensure the integration of equipment from a number of external suppliers, including the state identification system.
The new Saab systems should replace the outdated Thales Nederland radars on the Project 123 frigates-the LW08 air target detection and SMART-S general detection, and the STIR 180 fire control systems.
Also, radio intelligence and electronic warfare systems should be replaced on the frigates during the modernization, however, according to a BAAINBw press release, contracts for the purchase of these new systems with unnamed suppliers have yet to be concluded in 2021.
The lead frigate F 215 Brandenburg of the project 123 of the German Navy in a modern appearance (with) Sascha Jonack / Bundeswehr
