A keel-laying ceremony for the Type 424 type reconnaissance ship for the German Navy took place in Germany.

This was reported on the company’s official LinkedIn page.

The event took place at the Wolgast Peene shipyard in the presence of German Navy officials and company representatives.

Although the groundbreaking took place on February 25, the ship’s construction was launched in November 2024.

The Type 424 ships are designed to replace the aging Type 423 fleet, which has been in service with the German Navy since 1988.

It will replace the Oker, Alster, and Oster, which have been in service for over 40 years.

The first crew training facility will be available in 2027, and the German Navy will receive the first of three reconnaissance ships in 2029.

Two more are expected in 2030 and 2031, respectively, allowing the German Navy to completely renew its reconnaissance fleet.

One of the features of the ships is that they are designed on the basis of civilian technologies, which will speed up their construction and maintenance.

In June 2021, Germany signed a contract with NVL Group for the design of Type-424 ships.

Following the approval of the Bundestag’s budget committee in July 2023, NVL Group and BAAINBw signed an amendment to the contract to start construction.

The total cost of the program was initially estimated at €2.1 billion, but by 2023, it had risen to €3.3 billion.

The new ships will be about 132 meters long. Their advanced systems will allow them to track radar and communication signals over a wide range.

The ships will also be equipped with specialized electronic, hydroacoustic, and electro-optical sensors for comprehensive surface and underwater reconnaissance. Detailed characteristics of the Type-424 ships have not been disclosed.