Germany Commissions To Build Five New K130 Corvettes

Germany's procurement authority, the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-service Support (BAAINBw), has commissioned to build another five new Braunschweig-class (K130) corvettes for the country’s navy.

Bundeswehr awarded the contract the ARGE K130 consortium, composed of Lürssen Werft, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and German Naval Yards Kiel.

In June of this year, Bremen-based Fr. Lürssen Werft, the leading company of the ARGE K130 consortium, commissioned NOSKE-KAESER Maritime Solutions for delivery of the air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration and fire extinguishing systems. The scope of delivery also includes the heating systems, the CBRN protection system and the warfare agent detection system. In addition to delivery of the individual components, the order also includes installation and commissioning.

Delivery of the first components is scheduled for 2019. Installation will then take place at the four shipyards involved in the consortium in Bremen, Kiel, Wolgast and Hamburg. After successful commissioning and testing, the new Corvettes will be delivered and put into service from 2022 onwards.

Braunschweig-class corvettes were ordered because of the German navy’s increased scope and tempo of operations. Another reason is the fact that the MKS180 Multi-role Combat Ship order was delayed and the corvette announcement was interpreted as an offset to the delays.

The German Navy already operates five K130 ships. The second batch of corvettes will be similar in design to their predecessors, with updated technology.