German shipbuilder the NVL Group has laid the keel of a new signals intelligence (SIGINT) and reconnaissance ship ordered by the German Navy.
The NVL Group will build three Type 424 SIGINT ships under a contract valued at approximately 3.3 billion (US$2.5 billion). These ships will replace the German Navy's Type 423 or Oste-class vessels, which have been in service since the late 1980s.
Each Type 424 will have a length of approximately 132 metres and systems for monitoring radar and communications signals. The vessels may also be used for reconnaissance of the undersea environment thanks to the installation of specialised electro-optical and hydro-acoustic sensors.
The first Type 424 vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the German Navy in 2029. Its two sisters will follow in 2030 and 2031, respectively.
The contract awarded by the Bundeswehr to the NVL Group also includes dedicated training facilities for future Type 424 crews. These facilities are scheduled to become operational by 2027.