German Navy christens third K130 Batch II corvette

The third ship in the second batch of German Navy K130 corvettes was christened at Blohm+Voss’ shipyard in Hamburg on May 7, 2024.

During the ceremony, the 89-meter-long ship was named Karlsruhe after the city in the German state Baden-Württemberg. 

The first ship in the second batch of K130 corvettes was christened in April 2022, while the second corvette was named in May last year.

The new corvettes are designed for operation in coastal waters, augmenting the capabilities of fast attack boats and frigates. They are equipped with two 27 mm Mauser MLG27 remote-controlled, fully-automatic cannons, and one OTO Melara 76 mm gun.

With the successive delivery of five new corvettes, the German Navy is expected to receive additional capabilities for surface reconnaissance and maritime target engagement, especially in coastal waters, from 2025.

The new corvettes from the second batch are being manufactured by the joint venture (ARGE) K130, consisting of the NVL Group, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and German Naval Yards Kiel.

All five corvettes are currently in various phases of production at the Hamburg shipyard. In parallel with the final equipment, the project teams carry out sea trials of the second corvette Emden.

“The new corvettes, like all other naval projects under construction, are a visible sign of the modernization of the fleet and will significantly expand the capabilities of the German Navy. Accordingly, we are working hard to ensure that the boats are fully operational and then ready for use,” emphasized Tim Wagner, CEO of the NVL Group.

The contract includes construction services, manufacturing, the integration of all systems, devices and facilities and the design of the land and training facilities. Comprehensive logistics and services, including technical documentation and training of future crew members in handling the boat and its components, are also part of the contract.

Braunschweig-class corvettes were ordered because of the German Navy’s increased scope and tempo of operations. Another reason is the fact that the MKS180 multi-role combat ship order was delayed and the corvette announcement was interpreted as an offset to the delays.