Several months earlier than originally planned, the keel of the second of a total of three new Class 424 fleet service boats was laid today at the NVL site in Wolgast.
The traditional keel-laying ceremony took place in the presence of Flotilla Admiral Andreas Czerwinski, Head of the Maritime Department of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), Vice Admiral Axel Deertz, Deputy Inspector of the Navy and Commander of the Fleet and Support Forces, Major General Jürgen Setzer, Deputy Inspector of Cyber and Information Space (CIR) and Commander of the CIR forces, and Klaus Heilinglechner, Mayor of the future sponsor city of Wolfratshausen.
“I am extremely pleased that, together with the contractor, we have succeeded in reaching this important milestone in the project even ahead of the actual schedule. This shows that all sides have understood that time has top priority,” said Flotilla Admiral Czerwinski.
“For every commander of the fleet, the keel laying of a new unit is cause for celebration. What’s more, in this case the project is several months ahead of schedule. With the new technology, we will also adapt the type of deployment. This will ensure that not only the gray steel, but also the type of use is up to date. The fleet service boats will continue to form an indispensable part of the overall national security provision in the future,” said Vice Admiral Deertz.
“The three Class 424 fleet service boats represent an essential building block for the fulfillment of the mission of the cyber and information space branch of the armed forces, i.e. for reconnaissance in the electromagnetic spectrum. Today marks a significant step forward in this regard,” added Major General Setzer.
Sister ship is also on schedule
The highlight of the keel laying ceremony for the approximately 130 m long fleet service vessel was the placing of the lucky coins on the keel laying plate by the guests of honor and the wedging of the plate under the keel laying section.
“The construction progress of the ultra-modern reconnaissance ship is several months ahead of the original schedule and thus marks a significant milestone in the overall project. The construction of the first sister ship is also on schedule and underlines the professional cooperation between client and contractor as well as our high industrial performance,” said Tim Wagner, CEO of NVL. “The project stands for the high technological quality and innovative strength in Germany and we are proud to make an important contribution to the modernization of the Bundeswehr’s maritime capabilities together with our partners.”
The new generation of reconnaissance ships meets the latest military requirements for future-proof naval vessels. The ships will replace the OSTE-class units in future.
Teamwork between Wolgast and Lemwerder
The first and second forecastles of the three Class 424 fleet service boats are being built in Wolgast. The first forecastle will be shipped to the Lürssen shipyard in Lemwerder at the end of this year and the second forecastle is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026. The entire hull will be assembled there. The keel was laid for the first boat in the class in February 2025, also in Wolgast.
The Class 424 fleet service boats are used to monitor sea and coastal areas with electronic, hydroacoustic and electro-optical sensors as well as for reconnaissance and information gathering. The approximately 130 m long ships have a displacement of up to 4,000 tons.
They have a crew of around 50 and a similarly sized reconnaissance team. Delivery of the three new units is planned between 2029 and 2031; the training and reference system is to be available to the German Navy as early as 2027. The contract for the procurement of the fleet service boats was concluded in June 2021 between the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support and the Lürssen Group.
Takeover of the Peene shipyard
The Peene shipyard has been part of the Lürssen Group since 2013. The Group’s naval shipbuilding has been managed under the umbrella brand Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) since 2021. This is responsible for the entire range of new builds and all repair activities for naval vessels and coast guard boats. Around 400 employees work at the site, including trainees and dual students.
The NVL Group is to be taken over by the Rheinmetall Group at the turn of 2025/2026, subject to antitrust approvals. With the acquisition of the military shipbuilding division of the Lürssen Group, Rheinmetall is expanding its portfolio to include naval shipbuilding and is focusing on the development of integrated system solutions for maritime applications, including naval missiles, main and secondary guns, missile defense, sensors and battle management systems. Rheinmetall plans to significantly increase both sales and jobs at the site.
“The planned change of ownership opens up far-reaching opportunities for additional investments and a long-term strengthening of maritime technologies in our country,” says Jochen Schulte, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labor as well as Industry Commissioner and Coordinator of the State Government for the Maritime Economy, who also took part in the traditional ceremony today.
