Print Friendly, PDF & Email

On June 17, 2020, the German Bundestag discussed the multi-purpose combat ship 180 in addition to other armament projects. Both the Defense Committee and the Budget Committee approved the 25 million euro proposal and agreed to the lifting of the qualified lock on the commitment authorization. Nothing stands in the way of signing a contract.

In January 2020, the order for the multi-role combat ship (MKS) 180 went to the Damen Group (headquartered in Gorinchem, Netherlands), who had started with a design based on their Sigma class. The remaining German competitor in the international tender, German Naval Yards Kiel, which had started with thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as a subcontractor, was left behind. In mid-May 2020, German Naval Yards Kiel and Lürssen announced their intention to enter into a 'permanent cooperation in naval shipbuilding', with Bremen taking the helm. Under the moderation of the Federal Government's Maritime Coordinator, Norbert Brackmann MdB, this structural intervention in the naval shipyard landscape was brought to an end. The antitrust assessment is still pending.

If the intention expressed by the Dutch remains that German partners will participate to a large extent (80 percent of the total net investments are to remain in Germany as added value), the merger (subject to merger control approval) will provide another German building site for the construction of the multi-purpose combat ship 180 Disposal. Which could have a positive effect on the completion of the four ships. Because Damen intends to have construction number 1 ready by 2027 - although there is currently a lack of clarity between delivery and commissioning.

Shortly after the announcement of the decision - and this would be an indication of how serious the German integration, which Damen invoked, is - Hensoldt made the delivery of four TRS-4D ship radars, based on AESA technology, public.

The procurement of four multi-purpose combat ships 180 (MKS 180) is included in the federal budget with a total of 5.722581 billion euros. Funds of 396 million euros have been budgeted for the 2020 financial year, and a commitment authorization of 5.308 billion euros has been allocated for the following years, staggered in annual slices from 2021 to 2032. An option for two more MKS 180, for which the Navy is responsible, has not yet been considered in the budget.

The chairman of the defense committee, Wolfgang Hellmich, MdB, commented to ES&T: "Today's parliamentary decision to implement the MKS 180 project is a strong signal to our European partners and a clear commitment by Germany to its alliance obligations. With the decision to build four ships, we hope that the project will be implemented quickly. Our Navy needs this ship, including the training and supply environment. In this way, we are also fulfilling the commitments made in NATO with a ship whose capabilities can be further developed in a modular manner.”

A date for signing the contract has not yet been announced. The popping of champagne corks in Gorinchen, Bremen, Kiel and Rostock (and representative of many other suppliers in Taufkirchen) could be heard from afar.

 

Background ability spectrum MKS 180

Regarding the required range of capabilities of the multi-purpose combat ship MKS 180: It should be a means of naval warfare for high-intensity, multi-dimensional naval warfare and be suitable for operations in remote sea areas that can handle complex situations such as demanding environmental conditions. The multi-purpose combat ship should be able to hunt submarines as well as combat sea and land targets. It is equipped with on-board helicopters and can, if necessary, accommodate special forces as well as additional personnel and material. So a unit optimized for high-intensity naval warfare.

The multi-purpose combat ship, five meters longer and around two thousand tons larger, will be supported by the frigates of the Baden-Württemberg class, of which two units, the "Baden-Württemberg" (June 2019) and the "North Rhine-Westphalia" (recently, in June 2020 ) were put into service, adopt some features - above all automation and low maintenance of the technical systems as well as the multi-crew concept. While the crew is to rotate every four months, the ship will be able to remain in service for up to two years.

For the Navy, the multi-purpose combat ship fits in with the return to national and alliance defense initiated with the 2016 White Paper.

The deputy defense policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group Siemtje Möller, MdB: "MKS 180 meets the conceptual needs of the Navy and the capabilities of the ship cover a wide spectrum, three-dimensional naval warfare combined with up to 24 months of standing time at sea due to the multi-crew concept, the so far, no other ship in our navy can. The first four units should be supplemented by two more in the near future. With the MKS180, the capabilities of the Navy can be expanded and this has a positive effect on operational readiness, which is also increasingly in demand from our partners. On site in Wilhelmshaven, we are of course particularly pleased to be able to add those of the future F126 to the existing flagsticks!”

Hans Uwe Mergener

 

parameters and tasks

Length: approximately 155 meters design waterline
water displacement: maximum 9,000 tons
bunk capacity: 110 people regular crew

70 people embarkation contingents

Operating time: 24 Months
Travel area: worldwide
Ice Class: 1C/E1 for sea areas with ice formation
Useful life: 30 years
Armament: · Medium and short-range anti-aircraft missiles

· long-range anti-ship missiles

· 127mm main gun with extended range ammunition

· Water cannons, heavy machine guns, light naval guns

· Task Force boats, reconnaissance drones, anti-submarine warfare helicopters

Tasks: · Self-defense and combat missions

· Creation of a maritime picture of the situation above and below water

· Maritime surveillance and embargo control, including boarding

· Military evacuation in crisis situations

· Escort for merchant ships

· Management of task forces at sea