Brandenburg-class (Type 123) Frigate

History

The Brandenburg-class, also designated Type 123 or F123, is a class of four guided-missile frigates operated by the German Navy. The ships were designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and entered service during the 1990s.

The class combines long-range surface operations, anti-submarine sensors and helicopters, area surveillance systems, anti-ship weapons and short-range air defense. Successive modernization programs have been intended to maintain these capabilities while Germany introduces newer surface combatants.

FGS Brandenburg (F215) entered service in 1994, followed by FGS Schleswig-Holstein (F216) in 1995. FGS Bayern (F217) and FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (F218) entered service in 1996. The four ships became an important part of Germany's surface fleet and replaced older Bremen-class frigates in major blue-water roles.

From 2010, the class received the Fähigkeitsanpassung FüWES combat-system upgrade. This program introduced the SABRINA 21 combat management system, derived from Thales TACTICOS, and upgraded the identification friend or foe system to the MSSR 2000 I standard.

In July 2021, Saab received a contract covering Sea Giraffe 4A and Sea Giraffe 1X surveillance radars, CEROS 200 fire-control radars, the 9LV combat management system and a replacement identification system. The new equipment was intended to replace the older LW08, SMART-S and associated fire-control systems.

On 11 June 2026, the Budget Committee of the German parliament approved an anti-submarine warfare and torpedo-detection modification package for all four F123 frigates. On 30 July, Rheinmetall announced a separate contract in the mid-three-digit-million-euro range for a comprehensive overhaul of FGS Bayern. The work is being performed at Neue Jadewerft in Wilhelmshaven and is scheduled to continue through 2029.

The Bayern project includes replacement of the combat management system, modernization of radar sensors, overhaul of essential engineering and propulsion equipment, and improvements to anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Initial removal of onboard equipment had begun by July 2026. The objective is to keep Bayern operational until at least 2035. The program is documented by Army Recognition, Naval Technology, SeaWaves and Janes.

Design

Hull and aviation facilities

The Brandenburg-class hull incorporates measures intended to reduce radar signature. The ships measure approximately 138.85 m in length, although some modernization reports round the figure to 143 m. Beam is 16.7 m, and maximum draft over the bow sonar is approximately 6.3 m.

Full-load displacement is commonly listed as approximately 4,900 tonnes, while another published figure is 4,700 tonnes. Published complement figures also differ by period and configuration. A detailed class reference lists approximately 236 personnel, while a 2026 report gives 118 ship personnel and 19 aviation personnel.

Each frigate has a flight deck and hangar designed to support two Sea Lynx Mk.88A helicopters. The helicopters extend the ship's surveillance and anti-submarine engagement range and can carry Mk 46 torpedoes.

Propulsion

The ships use a combined diesel or gas propulsion arrangement. Two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines provide approximately 19 MW each, while two MTU 20V 956 TB92 diesel engines provide approximately 3.82 MW each. The machinery drives two shafts with controllable-pitch propellers.

The gas turbines support a maximum speed exceeding 29 knots. On diesel propulsion, the class has a reported range of approximately 4,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

Combat management and sensors

The documented original radar installation includes a Thales LW08 long-range air-search radar, a SMART-S three-dimensional air and surface surveillance radar, two STIR 180 fire-control radars and two navigation radars. SMART-S supplies target information to the STIR radars, which illuminate targets for semi-active radar-guided Sea Sparrow and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles.

Electronic warfare equipment includes the FL 1800S electronic countermeasures suite. Defensive countermeasures include SCLAR chaff and flare launchers and MASS multi-ammunition soft-kill launchers. A detailed overview of the class configuration is available from SeaForces.

Anti-submarine systems

The class carries an Atlas Elektronik DSQS-23BZ bow sonar. FGS Bayern also received the experimental Atlas TASS 6-3 low-frequency towed-array sonar, making it the only ship of the class documented with that system. The 2026 modernization program includes further anti-submarine warfare and torpedo-detection improvements, but the complete final configuration has not been disclosed.

Armament

Medium-range air defense is provided by a 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launching system. It can carry 16 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles or as many as 64 RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles when four missiles are loaded in each cell. Two Mk 49 launchers, each carrying 21 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles, provide close-range defense.

The class has one 76 mm OTO Melara naval gun. Two MLG27 remotely operated 27 mm gun systems replaced the original Rh 202 20 mm weapons.

The ships were originally fitted with four MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles in two twin launchers. These were replaced by eight RGM-84 Harpoon missiles carried in two Mk 141 quadruple launchers.

Anti-submarine armament includes two twin 324 mm Mk 32 Mod 9 torpedo launchers for Mk 46 torpedoes. Additional torpedoes can be deployed by the embarked Sea Lynx helicopters.

Modernization status

The F123 modernization effort combines earlier combat-system changes with renewed radar, identification, engineering and anti-submarine equipment. The precise relationship between the Saab equipment ordered in 2021 and the combat management and radar work included in Bayern's 2026 overhaul has not been fully detailed in the available reports.

Work on Bayern is scheduled for completion by 2029. Its planned service-life extension to at least 2035 is intended to preserve German anti-submarine and surface-combat capacity during the introduction of the F126 frigates and other future naval systems.

Ships and operator

• Germany — German Navy: FGS Brandenburg (F215), in service from 1994.
• Germany — German Navy: FGS Schleswig-Holstein (F216), in service from 1995.
• Germany — German Navy: FGS Bayern (F217), in service from 1996 and undergoing a service-life extension program scheduled through 2029.
• Germany — German Navy: FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (F218), in service from 1996.

Specifications (Brandenburg-class Type 123)

General characteristics

• Type: Guided-missile anti-submarine warfare frigate
• Full-load displacement: Approximately 4,900 tonnes; some sources report 4,700 tonnes
• Length: 138.85 m; some modernization reports use a rounded figure of 143 m
• Beam: 16.7 m
• Draft: 4.35 m; approximately 6.3 m over the sonar
• Complement: Published figures vary by period and configuration from 118 ship personnel plus 19 aviation personnel to approximately 236 personnel
• Aviation facilities: Flight deck and hangar for two Sea Lynx Mk.88A helicopters

Propulsion and performance

• Propulsion: Combined diesel or gas arrangement
• Gas turbines: Two General Electric LM2500 units, approximately 19 MW each
• Diesel engines: Two MTU 20V 956 TB92 units, approximately 3.82 MW each
• Drive: Two shafts with controllable-pitch propellers
• Maximum speed: More than 29 knots
• Range: Approximately 4,000 nautical miles at 18 knots

Armament

• Naval gun: One 76 mm OTO Melara gun
• Vertical launcher: One 16-cell Mk 41 system for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow or quad-packed RIM-162 ESSM
• Close-range missiles: Two 21-round Mk 49 launchers for RIM-116 RAM
• Anti-ship missiles: Eight RGM-84 Harpoon missiles in two Mk 141 quadruple launchers
• Automatic guns: Two 27 mm MLG27 systems
• Torpedoes: Two twin 324 mm Mk 32 Mod 9 launchers for Mk 46 torpedoes

Sensors

• Air-search radar: Thales LW08 in the documented original configuration
• Surveillance radar: Thales SMART-S in the documented original configuration
• Fire control: Two Thales STIR 180 radars in the documented original configuration
• Bow sonar: Atlas Elektronik DSQS-23BZ
• Towed sonar: Atlas TASS 6-3 on FGS Bayern
• Electronic countermeasures: FL 1800S suite