Atlas Elektronik GmbH has received a contract for the delivery of anti-submarine warfare mission modules (F126 MM ASW) for the German Navy’s new F126 frigates.
The contract was awarded by Thales Netherlands, one of the main partners of Dutch shipbuilder Damen, who is responsible for the delivery of four F126 frigates under a 4.6 billion euro contract from 2020.
The ASW contract will see Atlas Elektronik deliver two shipboard mission modules as well as a corresponding shore facility for the initial and support training of the German Navy.
The mission modules will enable the frigates to conduct long-range ASW operations and to build up an extensive subsurface picture. As explained, the modular system approach chosen for the F126 class allows for mission-specific equipment of the frigates and at the same time non-ship-specific deployment of the ASW modules. The company added that the latest active and passive sonar technology would be used for the mission modules.
“With the F126 MM ASW, we are launching a new, very powerful ASW system to meet both the current and the future challenges of our customers,” Michael Ozegowski, CEO of Atlas Elektronik GmbH, said.
Damen expected to deliver the first ship to the German Navy in 2028, with all construction work set to be carried out entirely in Germany at shipyards in Kiel, Hamburg and Wolgast.
In addition to Atlas Elektronik ASW systems, contracts for deliveries of subsystems for the ships that have already been announced include Mk41 vertical launching systems (VLS) that will be delivered by Lockheed Martin, Leonardo-supplied OTO 127/64 LightWeight (LW) Vulcano naval guns, and Hensoldt TRS-4D naval radars.
The frigates are also expected to carry Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missiles, RIM-116 RAM close-in weapon systems, and MLG 27 autocannons.
The ships will measure around 155 meters in length and have a core crew of 110 while an additional 70 crew would be in charge of the mission modules. They are designed as modular ships, meaning they will be capable of executing anti-submarine, anti-air and surface warfare missions. The German Navy wants the ships to have all potential mission modules onboard and to be capable of exchanging them on a “flexdeck” without having to go into port.
