The contract was awarded at the end of the second quarter of 2026. Rheinmetall will carry out the work at its Neue Jadewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven through 2029.
Bayern entered service in 1996 and measures 143 metres in length. The frigate is already berthed at Neue Jadewerft, where major components are being removed before its transfer to dry dock.
The modernisation package includes replacement of the ship’s Combat Management System. Rheinmetall will also upgrade the radar sensor suite and overhaul essential onboard engineering systems.
The work will cover the frigate’s propulsion and drive systems. Key anti-submarine warfare capabilities will also be upgraded as part of the service-life extension programme.
Rheinmetall said the programme will bring the F123-class frigate closer to current technological standards. The upgrades are also intended to strengthen Bayern’s ability to meet future operational requirements.
The award expands Rheinmetall’s naval services business, which covers maintenance, modernisation and lifecycle support. Those activities form a central part of the company’s Naval Systems portfolio.
“We are now fully focused on delivering the project on schedule. The Neue Jadewerft shipyard has many years of experience in the modernization and maintenance of naval vessels—particularly frigates—and possesses extensive expertise in integrating complex maritime systems,” said Tim Wagner, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems division.
“Combined with our close cooperation with all project partners and our customer, these capabilities provide the foundation for delivering the ship to the German Navy on time and to the required quality standards,” Wagner said. Rheinmetall plans to complete the modernisation by 2029.
