Modern and innovative - After project planning and many years of production, the testing period for the "Baden-Württemberg" began in April of this year with the first sea voyage, the so-called shipyard test voyage, and thus the proof of the required performance capability began. At the end of the two-year process, in addition to the usability of the frigate "Baden-Württemberg", a statement will also be made for the entire Class 125.
The upcoming test phase will not only concern the material and operational aspects, but will also include a review of the assumptions made and technical support for the multi-crew model.
The milestone reached is reason enough to continue the project Frigate class 125 once again from the perspective of the navy under the following aspects.
The operational workload for the German Navy has steadily increased in recent times. The fleet simultaneously provides units for four different mandated missions. In addition, there are obligations within the framework of NATO's Standing Maritime Groups and participation in joint exercises. This is accompanied by the simultaneous decommissioning of units, such as the Frigates of class 122 and the fast patrol boats of class 143A. The number of platforms available for operational tasks will also be reduced by the extensive measures to maintain operational readiness. Frigates Class 123 and the hardware regeneration for Class 124. This makes it all the more important to ensure that the four Frigates the class 125 and their availability for operational tasks. This article will describe the path to this point and discuss the various challenges until the first deployment - expected in spring 2019.
The four units of the Frigates Class 125 are organised by the ARGE F125a joint venture between thyssenkrupp Marinesystems and the Friedrich Lürssen shipyard. The foreships were built at the Lürssen sites in Lemwerder and Wolgast. The foreships were then transferred to Hamburg, where they were welded to the aft sections and superstructures built at Blohm und Voss. All four ships, fore and aft sections, are currently at the shipyard site in Hamburg and are in various stages of completion: the type ship "Baden-Württemberg" is in the testing phase, while the systems on the "Nordrhein-Westfalen" are currently being commissioned. On the third F125Saxony-Anhalt", the equipment is being pushed ahead. The fourth Frigate is still in the building dock and is expected to be christened "Rheinland-Pfalz" on 11 May 2017. The "Baden-Württemberg" is expected to be delivered to the public client in May 2017. The other units will be delivered at intervals of just under a year. The delivery date for the last ship is February 2020.
What will the path to operational availability look like?
Currently, the ARGE F125The company is now able to fulfil the contractually agreed services for the client. This began in April 2016 with the functional verification of marine technology on the "Baden-Württemberg". During this first sea voyage of the ship, many important insights were gained, which resulted in a pleasingly minor need for design/technical changes that could be implemented by the consortium within a few weeks. The changes have already been trialled on a second voyage. At the time of writing, "Baden-Württemberg" was again at sea to demonstrate the performance of the ship's technical systems to the Bundeswehr's acceptance commission. The previous sea voyages for the verification are still being carried out under the navigational and technical responsibility of the ARGE F125. However, some of the future naval crew were already on board and used their time at sea to gain initial experience and training in handling the new platform and its technology. This allowed the future military crew to familiarise themselves with the technical operation and seamanship of the ship. The first impressions of the future crew, who have so far been enthusiastic about their ship, are very encouraging. Although the first crews have no formal role in the acceptance of the ship, their judgement is of great importance.
Following completion of the functional verification of marine technology and the subsequent transfer from the shipyard in Hamburg to the future home port of Wilhelmshaven for further verification in July, another visible milestone has been reached.
The upcoming "small change of flag" marks the beginning of the "military career" of the "Baden-Württemberg". From this point onwards, the ship will no longer be operated by ARGE F125but on behalf of the project manager at the BAAINBw by the military crew under the direction of the military skipper, who will also be the future commander.
In addition to a trained crew and the availability of documentation that is necessary and usable for safe operation, the prerequisites for transfer to the navy's area of responsibility include proof of the implementation of operational and health and safety regulations for military personnel. The navy is then also responsible for the tasks of military guarding and ship safety at sea and in harbour.
Following the successful verification of functionalities in the area of ship technology, the implementation of individual functional verifications of systems and equipment from the area of command and control and weapon deployment systems in harbour and at sea is planned from August to November 2016. This includes the functional test of the electronic warfare system, various measurements at the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 71 in Eckernförde, the implementation of dynamic alignment and the testing of the multifunction radar.
Once these "individual tests" have been successfully completed, the functional verification of the weapon and command systems at sea is expected to begin in November 2016. This will involve testing whether the many individual systems and subsystems have been successfully integrated and work together as a whole in accordance with the requirements. According to the current planning status, all of these functional tests and trials will culminate in the delivery to the customer planned for May 2017. Commissioning by the navy is then planned shortly afterwards.
With the Frigates the class 125 the navy is implementing what is known as intensive utilisation with a multi-crew model and the deployment of up to eight crews rotating across the platform. The aim is to keep the ship in service for up to two years without interim transit phases in and out of the operational area. A gradual build-up of personnel - synchronised with the requirements of the shipyard - is taking place. The Alpha and Bravo crews have been set up and their training has begun. In addition, the crew Charlie, the third future crew, is already on site in Hamburg and is accompanying the commissioning of the "Nordrhein-Westfalen". This crew makes it possible to set up two complete military driving crews, with which continuous operations can then be carried out under the new conditions of the Soldiers' Working Hours Ordinance (SAZV). In this way, the personnel change of the sailing crews will already be practised in this testing and verification phase, thus enabling the necessary maritime projects and ensuring the performance of guarding tasks in the harbour. The planned training and familiarisation training will be carried out by the industry.
In connection with the multi-crew model and the availability of the four ships against the background of the targeted availability (level of ambition) of up to two units in deployment, the operational training and training of the up to eight planned crews is of great importance. The answer to this challenge is the establishment of an Operational Training Centre (EAZ) for task force supply units.Frigates Share F125 in Wilhelmshaven. Here, all those training sections are to be deepened in preparation where, according to the conventional model, the crew can fall back on their own ship. For example, crews who are not embarked will be given the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the equipment. Despite the close links, including with the project Frigate F125The project is an independent armaments project. Under the leadership of the Planning Office, a corresponding prioritised list of requirements was drawn up together with the Navy and the BAAINBw, a project manager was appointed and the Integrated Project Team (IPT) was set up. The first training sections around EAZ F/EGV should be able to commence in 2020. Until the gradual establishment of the EAZ has been completed, training exercises as well as parts of operational training will have to take place at the Navy's schools within the scope of available capacities, in addition to the regular training courses for each soldier.
With the planned takeover by the customer in May 2017 and the subsequent commissioning, the navy will begin implementing the new operating concept. To relieve the crews of administrative tasks on board, logistical and administrative support for the units will be provided by a land-based support element. This centralised element will provide smooth and efficient support for the units, personnel management and training planning for the individual crews as well as mission management. This transfer of tasks and a high degree of automation of the systems and equipment on board will allow the units to operate with a current crew of around 120 soldiers.
As the various IT systems process different levels of encryption, the systems and devices must be certified before they can be used. The national methodology and system of this process, known as "accreditation", are adopted from corresponding NATO/EU procedures. This ensures that the results of national accreditation can also be recognised and used in the Alliance context and on a multinational level. In addition to a review of the IT security documentation, the individual systems are subjected to a technical IT security audit. Responsible for the accreditation of the F125 is the BAAINBw Information Department. This will take around eight weeks and the unit can only be operated in basic mode once this has been completed.
Operational testing by the navy
The handover to the BAAINBw is proof of the contractually agreed services between the ARGE and BAAINBw. However, this is not yet proof that the unit fulfils the operational requirements placed on it in real operational scenarios.
To this end, the Operational Test Centre of the Naval Support Command checks the operational capability. The operational test is used to test mission-critical functions, taking into account the functions specified in the utilisation profile of the Frigate F125 specified operational conditions. It is intended to demonstrate the suitability of the weapon system F125 based on the operational concept for all class-related tasks of the ship.
For the operational test of the Frigate "Baden Württemberg" is scheduled for the period from June 2017. In addition to the required individual training of the two deployed crews and their certification as part of the damage defence combat service training, further tests of the functional chains in real operational scenarios and a blast test are planned. As the unit is to operate worldwide, its operational capability must be proven under different climatic conditions. To this end, cold and warm water tests will be carried out in corresponding sea areas. The integrated verification process also offers the Navy's training facilities, in particular the Navy's Damage Prevention Training Centre (EAZS), but also the Royal Navy's Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) in Plymouth, UK, the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the platform as well as the systems, equipment and command and control systems. The integrated verification programme will conclude with a training phase at FOST in early summer 2018.
By then, the "Baden-Württemberg" will have travelled many nautical miles and passed numerous tests and certificates. After approximately two years of operation since the first sea trial, a repair phase will follow in which, in addition to warranty work, further repair, inspection and maintenance work will be carried out.
The main focus will be on ensuring the material availability of the unit for the 24-month intensive utilisation phase that is now beginning. From today's perspective, the unit is expected to be fully operational in spring 2019.
The project F125 is becoming increasingly tangible for the navy. Crews are being assembled and trained, the type ship, the "Baden-Württemberg", is going to sea and will soon be on display in Wilhelmshaven - its home port. The time until delivery and commissioning is planned with a variety of trials and activities.
Even after the command: "Hot flag and pennant", further important steps on the way to the unit's full operational capability lie ahead with the operational test from mid-2017. However, the results of the first sea voyages are already proving accurate, the path ahead for the first unit of the new class has been determined and it is becoming clear on the horizon how these new Frigates will contribute to reducing the operational load of older ship classes in the navy.
The navy gets the class 125 a modern, in parts innovative ship, which is urgently needed to relieve the navy's operations.
Author: Roland Kalinski
Captain Roland Kalinski is Head of the Operational Support Division at the Rostock Naval Command.
On the subject: Interview with the Special Commissioner Frigate Class 125 Captain Christoph Mecke
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