Navy

Germany's first Type 125 frigate begins sea trials

The German Navy's first Type 125 frigate, the future FGS Baden-Württemberg , commenced builders' sea trials on 6 April. The commencement of these trials represents a major milestone in the project.

The design and operational concepts for the ships mark a departure from preceding classes in the navy. In design terms, the ships feature a combined diesel-electric and gas turbine propulsion system (CODLAG). In operational terms, the ships are intended primarily to support stabilisation operations and to deploy at sea for up to two years at a time while using regular crew rotations.

The project, in its current form, got under way in 2004. A construction contract was awarded to a consortium - known as ARGE F125, and comprising ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Lürssen, and PeeneWerft (now part of Lürssen) - in June 2007. Ship deliveries originally were intended to take place between late 2014 and 2017. In the 2008 Bundeswehrplan, the overall level of investment in the programme was put at about EUR2.69 billion (USD3.08 billion).