The German F123 frigate “Bayern“ (Bavaria) is to undergo extensive modernisation at the Neue Jadewerft shipyard. The contract for Rheinmetall is stated to be worth hundreds of millions.
At the end of the second quarter, the company was awarded the contract to modernise the 143-metre-long “Bayern”. The ship was commissioned in 1996 and is now to be refitted for further years of service. The Navy plans to be able to deploy the ship until at least 2035 following the work.
At the Neue Jadewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven, Rheinmetall will, amongst other things, carry out a comprehensive modernisation of the frigate’s key systems. The aim is to adapt the ship’s capability profile to current requirements. This includes, in particular, the replacement of the command and weapons control system, the overhaul of the ship’s technical systems and the modernisation of the radar sensor suite.
In addition, the propulsion and propulsion systems will be overhauled and key anti-submarine warfare systems retrofitted. “The upgrade will bring the F123-class naval vessel up to the latest technical standards and sustainably enhance its capabilities for future missions,” Rheinmetall stated.
The contract also underlines for the company the importance of the service business as a strategic business area for Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems division. It states that maintenance, modernisation and lifecycle support will ensure the operational readiness of naval vessels “for decades to come”. For Rheinmetall, this forms a key part of its portfolio.
Delivery by 2029
“We are now focusing all our efforts on ensuring on-time delivery,” said Tim Wagner, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems Division. “Neue Jadewerft has many years’ experience in the modernisation and repair of naval vessels – particularly frigates – as well as extensive expertise in the integration of complex maritime systems. Our expertise in this field and our close collaboration with all project partners and our client create the conditions necessary to hand over the ship to the German Navy on time and to the required standard.”
The ship is currently moored at the Neue Jadewerft pier for the removal of key large components. The “Bayern” will then be moved into the dry dock. The ship found itself in the headlines against its will in May 2025 when it was pursued by a Russian destroyer in the Baltic Sea .
Rheinmetall – Germany’s largest defence contractor – entered the naval shipbuilding sector in March with the acquisition of NVL . The new division is set to play a key role in the company’s development: following a successful financial year in 2025, Rheinmetall expects high turnover in the future. NVL owns the Blohm+Voss shipyards in Hamburg, the Peene shipyard in Wolgast, and the two repair shipyards Neue Jadewerft (Wilhelmshaven) and Norderwerft (Hamburg). It also has sites in Bulgaria, Croatia and Brunei. Rheinmetall is also considering the acquisition of the Mangalia shipyard in Romania in collaboration with the shipping company MSC.
