Fregata GMF 140 with Aegis system. Rheinmetall is looking for the first contractor

Rheinmetall presented a design of a 140-metre rocket frigate GMF 140 with a displacement of more than 6000 tonnes, equipped with Aegis combat system and 64 vertical launcher chamber. The company first wants to offer the ship in North America's purchasing process, but did not reveal the name of the program or potential contracting party.

Rheinmetall leads GMF 140 to the North American market

The project was designed for the war navy of the states NATO and their allies who seek frigates capable of defending the airship teams, combating ballistic missiles and submarines, and executing land strikes.

The first test for the new offer is the North American market. However, Rheinmetall did not specify which purchase programme it was about, where it was at, or when it could have been selected by the contractor.

The frigate is expected to be 140 metres long and its buoyancy is expected to exceed 6000 tonnes. In terms of size, it would be in the upper compartment of modern rocket frigates, approaching the parts of destroyers built for Western Navys.

Aegis system and 64 vertical take-off chamber

Project Aegis combat system and an American air defense radio station, offered in several possible configurations. Rheinmetall did not give the type of radar or its manufacturer, it merely indicated that the most extensive variant was intended to allow ballistic missile tracking.

The ship is expected to receive a vertical launch launch system with 64 chambers in the Strike Length variety. According to Rheinmetall, piloted anti-aircraft missiles, missiles designed to combat ballistic missiles, and maneuvering missiles to fire land targets can be fired. However, the company did not indicate the type of launcher or specific missiles intended for integration, so it is not yet possible to determine the actual fire unit of the frigate.

In materials concerning GMF 140 A combat management system CMS 330 developed by Lockheed Martin Canada is also listed. According to the summary presented by Rheinmetall, it would complement the Aegis system if necessary, but the manufacturer did not describe the division of tasks or the way the two solutions worked together.

Submarine control equipment

The hydrolocation equipment is intended to include hull sonar and towed sonar. The project also provides for solutions limiting the acoustic signature of frigates, which is intended to make it difficult for the opponent's hydrolocation stations to detect it.

The types of sonars or their parameters have not been disclosed. There is also a lack of information about the type of gym, propulsion system and solutions to reduce the noise and vibrations of ship equipment.

The project provides for the possibility to base on aircraft of American or European origin and use systems Unmanned. However, Rheinmetall did not specify the number of helicopters, hangar dimensions or types of unmanned aircraft intended to cooperate with the frigate.

127 mm caliber cannon and other weapons

In addition to missile weapons, the frigate is expected to receive 127 mm cannon universal, anti-ship missiles, torpedo weapons and direct defense system CIWS. Rheinmetall did not indicate any producers or indications of individual systems.

Electronic equipment is intended to include optoelectronic systems and electronic combat, while the self-defence of the ship is intended to complement systems of apparent targets. The list also includes a laser weaponry system, but the company did not reveal its power, purpose or level of technical readiness. It is therefore not known whether it would enter the basic frigate configuration or be integrated only later.

Rheinmetall assumes the use of open architecture to enable the subsequent integration of new sensors, weapons and communication devices. At this stage, however, this remains a project concept whose implementation will depend on the requirements of the contracting authority and the selection of specific suppliers.

The Rheinmetall project is still waiting for the first customer

Bye. GMF 140 exists only in documentation and visualizations, therefore the declared parameters of the ship cannot be verified in any way. The prototype was not created, the contractor was not selected, and Rheinmetall did not indicate the yard to be responsible for the construction.

The company also did not specify the price of the frigate, the number of crews, the type of propulsion, the maximum speed, the range and the date of possible entry of the first ship into service. Only the procurement will show whether the concept will become the basis of a real ship program, or whether it will remain one of the many offers presented on the increasingly competitive market of large frigate-class warships.

Poland program MIecznik shows the difference between the tender project and the structure which has already entered the stage of implementation. Three frigates based on the Arrowhead 140 project are created in the PGZ of the Naval Shipyard, and the first one, the future ORP Wind, is supposed to hit water on August 13. The day before, there will be a ceremony to give the ship a name.

Whether the German concept also goes beyond the stage of documentation and visualization will decide to obtain the first order that Rheinmetall intends to seek in North America.