Rheinmetall has begun production of the third Class 424 intelligence vessel ahead of schedule at its Peene-Werft shipyard in Wolgast. The milestone was marked by a steel cutting ceremony attended by representatives of the Bundeswehr.
The vessel is the final unit in a three-ship series and will be used jointly by the German Navy and the Cyber and Information Domain Service. With this step, all vessels of the Class 424 programme are now under construction.
“Beginning the steel cutting early means that all ships of this class are now under construction. This is far more than just a technical milestone—it is a strategic signal. In the current geopolitical security environment, which is changing faster than ever before, we, as an industrial partner, are doing our part to accelerate strengthening defence capabilities. Speed is now a security-relevant factor—and this is exactly what we are focussing on,” said Tim Wagner.
The approximately 130-metre-long vessels are designed as maritime reconnaissance platforms for intelligence gathering operations. They are equipped with advanced sensor technology and built to meet modern military requirements.
The three ships in the series are intended to provide future-ready capabilities for the German Armed Forces. Their role will focus on maritime-based intelligence collection in support of defence operations.
Once commissioned, the Class 424 vessels will replace the existing OSTE-class intelligence ships. The programme represents a step in modernising Germany’s naval reconnaissance fleet.
