Lockheed Martin to equip German F126 frigates with MK 41 VLS.

According to a PR published by Damen on February 16, 2022, Damen Naval has contracted Lockheed Martin for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System in support of the F126 project. In this way, Lockheed Martin will significantly support the construction of the new frigates for the German Navy.
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Artist rendering of future German Navy's F126 frigate (Picture source: Damen)

The award concerns the MK41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) Direct Commercial Sale contract, which was signed on January 31, 2021, for the production and delivery of two 8-cell strike length MK 41 VLS Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 capable modules for each of four ships plus associated engineering efforts and ancillary hardware.

Both the German and Royal Netherlands Navy operate this system. Damen is familiar with the MK 41 VLS system operating on the Netherlands Air Defence and Command Frigate (ADCF) project and various other projects in the export domain.

Moreover, the system has a rich 25+ year history with the German Navy, including projects such as the F123 Brandenburg Class and F124 Sachsen Class frigates.

It’s “Any Weapon/Any Cell” design allows an MK41 cell to fire any integrated missile providing maximum flexibility. With over 14,000 deployed VLS cells across more than 150 vessels, 4,500 operational and test firings and an operational availability of greater than 99 percent, MK 41 VLS stands as a remarkable testament of the ingenuity.

With this system, in combination with other systems and sensors onboard, the F126 has the ability to operate in the most complex maritime environments, and therefore contribute internationally to securing safety and stability.

Damen Naval is building the four F126 class frigates together with its partners Blohm+Voss and Thales. Damen Naval was selected as successful bidder in 2020 following a European tender process spanning several years.

MKS 180 (Mehrzweckkampfschiff 180) is the working title for a planned frigate class intended to replace the Brandenburg-class frigates for the German Navy. The ships are to be the largest surface warships to join the Navy since World War II. The class is to enter service as the Frigate Type 126 or F126, continuing German Navy nomenclature.