Defense News – The German navy’s priorities for 2024 will focus on increasing its presence in the Baltic Sea and Indian Ocean, top service officials said this month, while a deployment to the Red Sea to protect trade ships recently targeted by Houthi rebels in Yemen also is on the horizon.

Defense News – The German government is weighing its scant options for contributing to an international mission aimed at protecting maritime traffic in the Red Sea from missile attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.

New Atlas – Laser weapons have begun to spread throughout NATO, as the German Navy has completed a year-long trial under realistic sea conditions of a 20-kW MBDA Deutschland/Rheinmetall Laser Weapon Demonstrator. It was installed aboard the 5,800-tonne (6,393-ton) frigate Sachsen.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – An exclusive look into the German Navy’s submarine squadron and one of the world’s most capable diesel-electric submarines.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – The German Navy will deploy a frigate and a combat support ship to the Indo-Pacific in 2024.

El Snorkel – Until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany’s arms industry was a declining sector that was increasingly dependent on exports. Now companies have to change course and urgently need new staff. (In Spanish)

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – As the last Typhoon class submarine is retired, another underwater giant is starting construction. The German MUM (Modifiable Underwater Mothership) will be the largest autonomous underwater vehicle in the world.

Reuters – Germany will expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific by sending more warships and joining drills with allies as it keeps an eye on the “enormous” build-up of China’s armed forces, the German defence chief told Reuters.

CIMSEC – Germany is heavily involved in­ issues related to the­ Arctic, from the consequences of climate change to maritime security and the preservation of the Arctic as an area of cooperation.

CIMSEC – The first part of this two-part series will examine the importance of the GIUK gap and the wider Arctic-North Atlantic region in which it is located.

USNI News – The seven-month deployment of the German Navy Frigate FGS Bayern (F217) was a success despite COVID-19 and challenges from a lengthy underway, the frigate’s commanding officer said.

USNI News – The current six-month-plus deployment of German frigate FGS Bayern (F217) to the Indo-Pacific is the initial step toward a regular biannual naval deployment to the region, German Navy Chief Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schönbach said today.

Defense News – Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Friday the country will step up military cooperation with Germany in the Indo-Pacific region as he welcomed a port call by the first German warship to visit Japan in about 20 years.

Naval News – Submarines rely on stealth to maintain the element of surprise and escape threats. For decades this has focused on reducing the noise emitted by the submarine. A resurgence of using active sonar to locate submarines now means that new stealth measures may be required. German submarine builder TKMS appears to be the first to apply radical stealth shaping.

Defense News – The German Navy plans to equip its F124 frigates with new radars that expand the vessels’ capabilities into the field of ballistic missile defense.

CIMSEC – The German government recently announced the deployment of the frigate Bayern to the South China Sea. With this deployment, Berlin is aiming to send a strong signal to its European and American allies. However, it is one that comes with an exit strategy of a kind that is unique to the use of naval forces. On one hand, Germany wants to be seen as standing up against unilateral Chinese appropriation of international waters. On the other hand, China’s potential counterreactions need to be closely monitored and dangerous escalation avoided, especially in light of China’s current conventional and nuclear capabilities, and Germany’s economic dependence on the Middle Kingdom.

Naval News – The German parliament has formally approved the procurement of five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing for the German Navy.

National Interest – In a press release, the German Ministry of Defense announced the conclusion of a contract agreement between Norway, Germany, and Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems for six new Type 212 submarines to be delivered to the German and Norwegian navies. Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is a German shipbuilding company that also designs and builds some of the world’s most advanced non-nuclear submarines.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – The U.S. government has cleared the sale of five P-8A maritime patrol aircraft to Germany, but Berlin is nowhere near ready to make a decision on the $1.8 billion purchase.

Naval News – The United States’ State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Germany of Boeing P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and associated support, and related equipment.

China Mil – A German frigate would set sail for the Indo-Pacific region early August this year and sail through the South China Sea on its way back about six months later, reported the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a German newspaper, on March 2 citing several senior officials at the German foreign and defense ministries. Reuters said it that would be the first German warship crossing the South China Sea since 2002.

Defense Update – The German procurement authorities have awarded Rheinmetall a contract to develop a key future laser weapon system component.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – The German Government recently formulated the interests, principles and central areas of German policy in the Indo-Pacific region. The new guidelines are also a contribution to a possible EU-European Union overall strategy for the region.

– Naval News – The German Navy (Deutsche Marine) F124 Sachsen-class frigate “Hamburg” set sails today to take part in the European Union’s EUNAVFOR MED IRINI operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

– CIMSEC – Russian appetite for serious mischief-making in the north is, thankfully, considered to be low. But it should prompt us to widen our peripheral vision – to the Mediterranean, the near east, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific, where we do in fact see a lot more maritime activity.