German Navy reinforces its fleet air defenses with additional RAM block 2B missiles.

According to information published by the US DoD on October 26, 2024, RAM-System GmbH (RAMSYS), headquartered in Ottobrunn, Germany, has been awarded a major contract worth €277,836,839 and $206,568,496 to supply the German Navy with Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2B Guided Missile Round Packs (GMRP).
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Rolling Airframe Missile System in service in the German Navy. (Picture source: MBDA Deutschland)

Developed jointly by Raytheon and RAM-System GmbH (RAMSYS), a partnership between Diehl Defence and MBDA Deutschland, the RAM Block 2B represents a significant advancement in the missile's ability to defend against sophisticated anti-ship missiles, aircraft, and other modern threats.

The RAM Block 2B offers several key upgrades, including a new infrared seeker head and an innovative missile-to-missile communication link. This link is designed to optimize coordination during salvo launches, enabling more effective interception of complex raid scenarios. Additionally, its enhanced radar frequency receiver and advanced control systems make the missile more maneuverable and capable of handling new-generation threats with higher precision.

These missiles will be deployed on a range of German Navy vessels, including frigates and corvettes, such as the K130 corvettes, F123, F124, F125 frigates, and the future F126 class ships. The RAM Block 2B will be delivered starting in 2024 and is expected to be fully operational across the fleet by 2029. This procurement will strengthen the fleet’s close-in air defense, providing a robust response to modern maritime threats.

Analysis

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has brought a new sense of urgency to the issue of naval air defense, as evolving threats from the air, including drones, missiles, and advanced weapons, have become key factors in modern warfare. The war has demonstrated the increasing vulnerability of naval forces to these aerial threats, highlighting the need for navies to rethink and modernize their air defense strategies.

As the Russo-Ukrainian war unfolds, it has become clear that maritime forces are facing a rapidly changing threat landscape. The use of drones, both for reconnaissance and attack, has emerged as a cost-effective yet powerful tool in disrupting naval operations. These drones, often difficult to detect with traditional radar systems, can swarm targets, overwhelm defenses, and deliver precise strikes. This was seen notably in Ukraine's use of drone systems to challenge Russian naval assets in the Black Sea.