Blohm + Voss GmbH, a company of the ThyssenKrupp shipyards, will be represented from 12th - 15th April 2004 in Hall A as an exhibitor at the defence engineering trade fair "Defence Service Asia" (DSA), which will be held this year for the 9th time. Over 600 exhibitors from more than 40 countries will be taking part in the DSA in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The DSA is one of the biggest trade fairs for the military technology industry, with more than 17,000 specialist visitors from over 40 countries.

Blohm + Voss is presenting itself in Kuala Lumpur with the MEKO®-concept (MEhrzweck-KOmbination - Multi-purpose combination). 60 MEKO® frigates and corvettes have been built to date at Blohm + Voss and its partner shipyards.

In October 2003 the second in a series of six MEKO® patrol ships was transported for the Malaysia Royal Navy by dock ship to Lumut / Malaysia, where the first two patrol ships are being fitted out by the Blohm + Voss partner shipyard Penang Shipbuilding & Constructions Naval Dockyard. Sea-trials for all units are also being carried out in Malaysia. Besides building the patrol ships, Blohm + Voss` order also includes training the Malayan shipyard personnel on-site as well as a comprehensive "off-set programme".

The patrol ships with 91.1 m length, 12.85 m beam and 3.4 m draught are equipped with two Type 3616 Caterpillar diesel engines of 3,450 kW each. Two controllable pitch propellers ensure that they then reach speeds of over 22 Kn. The crew is made up of 78 persons, plus 15 in reserve. The ships are used mainly for coastal protection and to protect ocean traffic in the Malacca Straits. The patrol ships have an extension reserve that allows them to take Type MM40 anti-shipping missiles, the RAM air defence system, a helicopter as well as various other weapons systems on board at a later time.

In 2003 Blohm + Voss handed over the first in a series of four MEKO® A-200 SAN corvettes to the South African Navy that stand out due to considerably reduced radar, sound and IR signature. Blohm + Voss has also drawn up innovative designs for naval ships of the future and has therefore continued the successful MEKO® construction concept of modularisation with innovative construction solutions and new systems from drive, weapons and sensor manufacturers.

One of the results of this development work is the MEKO® D (D = DELTA), which was named after the innovative, wide stern to produce favourable resistances over a larger speed range. The MEKO® D is characterised by a modern redundant safety concept with a "two-island" concept, so that in the event of damage essential functions like power supply, drive, steering, communication etc. can be taken over from the other island.

The MEKO® D multi-purpose frigate is the ideal ship for crisis situations in order to offer expedition units protection and also to actively take part in coastal assignments, whereby improved air target combating and underwater combat command are the main objectives.

The latest member of the MEKO® family is the MEKO® X, which also contains all design features of the MEKO® D. The MEKO® X is planned as a surface combat craft for national and international deployment with improved possibilities in all areas in the event of multiple threat. Particular attention was paid here to air target combating and the support during land deployments including all Network Centric Warfare aspects and a wide spectrum of mutual support resp. joint missions of the partial armed forces. Both ships are designed for different drive variations including a part-load electric drive.

Blohm + Voss GmbH is strengthened both technically and financially by the worldwide network of the parent company ThyssenKrupp AG, which employees around 190,000 people and makes an annual turnover of around 36 bn euros.

Contact:

Blohm + Voss GmbH
Public Relations
Andrea Wessel
Telefone: 0049 (0) 40 3119 1320
Telefax: 0049 (0) 40 3119 3329
E-Mail: andrea.wessel@tkt-blohm.thyssenkrupp.com