In Germany, at the Peene-Werft shipyard of NVL in Wolgast, the steel cutting ceremony for the construction of the second Klasse 424 type electronic reconnaissance ship for the German Navy took place.
Representatives from the Bundeswehr and representatives from all NVL and Lürssen shipyards involved in the project attended the important event.
Thanks to the synergies with the Lürssen Group, having upgraded the Peene-Werft shipyard, NVL has managed to anticipate the start of construction of the second Type 424 unit ahead of schedule.
The Klasse 424 will consist of 3 naval units specialized in ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) and SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) missions, therefore used for information collection and reconnaissance missions.
The new Type 424 will replace the three Type 423 or Oste class, entered service between 1988 and 1989, units also specialized in ELINT and SIGINT missions.
Characteristics of Klasse 424
The 132-meter-long Klasse 424 ships will be managed by the German Navy and by specialists from the Cyber-und Informationsraum (CIR), and the Strategic Reconnaissance Command of the Bundeswehr.
The displacement of the new units should be between 3,500 and 4,000 tons, with a crew of fifty men complemented by a maximum of another fifty specialists and operators of reconnaissance and research systems.
In addition to active and passive equipment to carry out ELINT and SIGINT missions, the Type 424 will also have submarine surveillance capabilities, as well as small UAS.
The self-protection capabilities will include electronic warfare systems and low sonic footprint engines will be installed to increase stealth. The armament will be limited to 30×137 mm machine guns/cannons that can be supplemented, if necessary, by MANPADS to increase air threat defense capability.
Source and image credit @NVL Group
