Firearms History And Collecting
Germany To Build Uncrewed Missile-Toting Arsenal Ships For Its Frigates
Germany announces plans for uncrewed missile ships to complement naval frigates
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Berlin, Germany
Germany is set to build a new class of uncrewed missile vessels, known as the Large Remote Missile Vessels (LRMV), designed to enhance the missile capacity of its fleet, particularly the upcoming F127 frigates. These unmanned vessels will serve as arsenal 'wingmen,' bolstering the firepower of conventional surface combatants by providing additional missile storage and launching capabilities. With modern naval combat increasingly characterized by missile and drone swarms, the German Navys move to procure these arsenal ships reflects a strategic shift towards uncrewed platforms that can support manned ships without the need for significant additional crew resources. The LRMVs will be equipped with vertical launch systems (VLS), which will likely carry a variety of missiles, including the Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) for air defense, the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) for short- and medium-range air defense, and possibly the long-range SM-6 missile for air and missile defense, as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles for strike capabilities. These vessels will effectively act as floating missile magazines, extending the reach of the F127 frigates, which themselves will feature 64 VLS cells. The primary role of these uncrewed vessels will be to act as floating storage and launch platforms, carrying a vast number of missiles without the need to accommodate expensive sensors, which will be provided by other vessels or aircraft. The uncrewed nature of the LRMV allows for significant cost savings compared to traditional manned combat ships while providing a crucial capability in terms of missile capacity. Their operations will be guided by data relayed from other vessels or platforms, such as the parent F127 frigates, making them a highly efficient asset in the field of modern naval warfare. The deployment of the LRMVs will also complement Germanys efforts to modernize its naval forces in light of the increasing threat from advanced missile systems and drone swarms. As a supplement to the F127 frigates, which are designed to serve in a range of maritime defense roles, these arsenal ships will help mitigate the limitations of the frigates' firepower, providing enhanced strike and air defense capabilities. Furthermore, the LRMVs modular design, which is still in the planning stages, could enable future upgrades to accommodate new missile technologies as they become available. These vessels will also serve as a countermeasure to the growing risks associated with missile saturation attacks, such as those seen in recent conflicts in the Middle East. As concerns rise about the ability of traditional warships to defend against massed missile and drone attacks, the German Navys uncrewed missile vessels represent an innovative solution to augment the defensive capabilities of its fleet without adding significant crew burdens. While details regarding the exact dimensions and technical specifications of the LRMVs remain preliminary, the growing focus on these uncrewed platforms marks a broader shift in naval warfare. Other nations, including the United States, are exploring similar unmanned systems that could serve both as missile carriers and as reconnaissance platforms. The concept of modular uncrewed vessels is particularly appealing in an era where flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness are critical to maintaining a competitive edge in maritime defense. Despite these promising developments, many challenges remain in operating uncrewed platforms in contested environments. As with all unmanned systems, reliable communications and command and control structures are essential for the effective functioning of these ships. The integration of resilient, secure, and real-time data links will be crucial for ensuring the smooth coordination of the LRMVs with other assets in the fleet. The LRMVs are part of Germanys broader efforts to modernize its naval forces and enhance its strategic capabilities in the face of evolving global security threats. With an estimated procurement of three vessels by the mid-2030s, these uncrewed missile ships are expected to significantly strengthen Germanys position in the global naval power balance.