Due to the growing Russian threat in Eastern Europe, the German Navy is reportedly evaluating the incorporation of Tomahawk cruise missiles into its warships. This was confirmed by the head of the German naval force during a recent interview in the second edition of Navy Talks. The decision would respond to the need to reinforce long-range strike capabilities, marking a significant leap in the Bundesmarine’s capabilities in the face of international conflict scenarios.
In the context of the aforementioned forum, the German outlet Hart Punkt interviewed Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, the highest authority of the German Navy, who stated that the integration of Tomahawk missiles into naval units is currently under evaluation. At present, only a few countries possess such cruise missiles aboard their ships, which would represent a qualitative jump in Germany’s capabilities, aligning with its newly revised strategic orientation in response to the current international climate. This new doctrinal approach, referred to as “Kurs Marine” or “Maritime Strike,” aims to enhance offensive capabilities, particularly precision strikes deep within enemy territory.
According to the referenced document, the new posture asserts that the German Navy must, in the short term, increase the strike capacity of all its units—especially submarines—in order to use them “covertly from locations where the adversary does not expect it.” This includes the integration of modular and containerized weapon systems on existing ships and vessels. It also indicates the need to rapidly increase the amount of available munitions, complementing this reinforcement with means capable of operating from surface ships at long distances.
Following these guidelines, sources indicate that if the acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles is realized, they could be installed on F124-class or F123-class frigates, provided they are equipped with the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System in the Strike variant, which is suitable for housing such missiles.
However, their integration is also being considered for the future F127-class anti-air frigates, currently under development by the German shipbuilder TKMS to replace the Sachsen-class F124. As previously reported, this new naval program was greenlit by the German government at the end of 2024, based on the MEKO A-400 AMD design to be built in partnership with NVL. Based on available specifications, the ships are expected to be 160 meters long and 21 meters wide, with a displacement of around 10,000 tons—significantly larger than the current German F125-class frigates.
For now, it should be noted that the German Navy expects to begin incorporating the first of these vessels in the early 2030s, assuming construction can begin within this year. At present, the number of next-generation frigates with advanced anti-air capabilities and cutting-edge combat systems remains unknown.
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