The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has given its green light for the purchase of 600 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2B missiles for the German Navy.
Block 2B is a further development of the guided missiles already used by the German Navy on Braunschweig-class corvettes and several frigate classes.
The future F126 frigates will also be equipped with the missile system.
Developed jointly by Germany and the United States with Raytheon and Diehl Defence as main contractors, the missile is used for defense against incoming missiles, aircraft or helicopters. The Block 2B introduces a more powerful rocket motor, improved passive radio frequency seekers and upgraded infrared seeker components.
The improved infrared seeker also enables data to be shared between the missiles of a salvo (missile-to-missile link).
The 600 guided missiles will be delivered between 2024 and 2029 under an order valued at 560.9 million euros.
The German defense ministry announced the purchase approval after the government previously announced the establishment of a special fund that would include 100 billion euros for investments in the security of Germany.
The special fund was announced in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion in Ukraine. Germany has also supported Ukraine’s defense efforts either through direct supplies of weapons to the country or through the “Ringtausch” concept. With the concept, Germany is supporting NATO countries that have Soviet-era weapons in their inventories in donating them to Ukraine by providing more modern equipment in return.
More recently, Germany agreed to transfer 15 of its Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks to Slovakia in exchange for Slovakia’s transfer of Soviet-era infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
On September 21, German defense minister Christine Lambrecht announced the signing of a letter of intent with Slovenia, which would see the Balkan state send 28 of its Soviet-era M-55S tanks in exchange for German military trucks.
