German Navy chief sees challenging year ahead
The German Navy has a challenging year ahead, with new ships entering service, the Inspekteur der Marine (Germany's navy chief), Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, told the service's 59th Historisch-Taktische Tagung (Historical-Tactical Meeting) held in Dobbin-Linstow, close to the Baltic port of Rostock, on 10 January.
German Navy Chief Vice Admiral Andreas Krause addressed the service's 59th Historical-Tactical Meeting in Dobbin-Linstow, close to Rostock, on 10 January. (Bundeswehr/Steve Back/PIZ Marine)
The admiral expected Germany's first two F125 frigates to enter service in 2019, with the first-in-class Baden-Württemberg during the first half of the year followed by the Nordrhein-Westfalen later in the year and the two other ships of the class in 2020.
He said the first steel would be cut for the Köln, the first of five new corvettes, on 7 February. The other four ships of the class will be named Emden, Karlsruhe, Augsburg , and Lübeck.
Turning to the MKS 180 multirole combat ship, Vice Adm Krause expected the best and final offer to be selected in the spring and parliamentary approval during the second half of 2019. The first MKS 180 ship will enter service in 2027 following a two-year delay, he explained.
The first Sea Lion maritime helicopter will land at the German Navy base of Nordholz in October, according to Vice Adm Krause.
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