The third vessel is being built at Rheinmetall’s Peene-Werft shipyard, where construction of the second ship is proceeding in parallel. The ceremony was attended by Pistorius, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister President Manuela Schwesig, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger and senior representatives from the Bundeswehr, politics and industry.
“The new generation of Class 424 fleet intelligence vessels is equipped with high-performance sensor technology that enables very efficient monitoring of the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air and sea, and allows for even better intelligence gathering,” Pistorius said. “The new vessels are due to enter service gradually from 2029 onwards, ensuring this capability for the coming decades.”
“Our Navy and the Cyber and Information Domain Service are working closely together on this,” Pistorius said. “The specialists in the Cyber and Information Domain Service utilise the technical capabilities on board to gather and analyse information.”
“In doing so, they will make an important contribution to our situational picture,” Pistorius said. “Our new capability profile stipulates a total requirement of four fleet intelligence vessels.”
“Three are currently under construction. I have therefore, in close consultation with the Chief of the Navy and the Chief of the Cyber and Information Domain Service, set the course for a fourth sistership,” Pistorius said. “We are now proceeding to the parliamentary vote on this matter.”
The vessels are approximately 130 metres long and are designed as reconnaissance platforms for maritime intelligence gathering. They will be fitted with advanced sensor technology and later towed to Rheinmetall’s Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg for final outfitting, commissioning and testing.
The keel-laying ceremony traditionally marks the symbolic start of the main shipbuilding process and included the placement of lucky coins on a keel-laying plate before it was wedged beneath the keel section. Attendees also included Minister of State Philipp Amthor, Vice Admiral Axel Deertz, Vice Chief of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Thomas Daum, Chief of the Cyber and Information Domain Service, Hof Mayor Angela Bier and Jürgen Giefer of the Federal Office of Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support for the German Armed Forces.
“For Wolgast, for eastern Vorpommern, and for the whole of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Peene-Werft is far more than just a shipyard,” Schwesig said. “The maritime industry is one of our key sectors, of which we are proud.”
“Its value chains stretch from the north right down to the south,” Schwesig said. “We are delighted that the keel has been laid for the third fleet intelligence vessel.”
“The successful keel laying, well ahead of schedule, is a strong testament to the capabilities of our entire team,” Papperger said. “It demonstrates what is possible when planning, technological expertise, and collaborative partnerships are consistently integrated.”
“It also showcases the skills and knowledge that make this facility a hub of modern naval shipbuilding,” Papperger said. “Today we have reached an important milestone, thereby creating an excellent foundation for the next phases of construction.”
“My thanks go to everyone involved who made this success possible through their full commitment, passion, and expertise,” Papperger said. The milestone comes as Rheinmetall continues construction of the second and third Class 424 vessels at Wolgast while Germany considers adding a fourth ship to the programme.
