With the handover of the frigate HESSEN, the F124 construction schedule, which represents one of the German Navy's biggest procurement plans with orders totalling around EUR 1.5 bn, is successfully concluded.

New data-processing and guidance system
In addition to leading task groups, the main task of the new frigate is the wide-ranging protection of the task group against any form of threat from the air. The use of a large number of sensors and effectors takes an enormous amount of time duringinformation processing. That is why a new kind of data-processing and guidance system with a real-time database and integrated communications network is being used on Class 124 frigates for the first time. The integration of such complex systems was a particular challenge that the ARGE F 124 shipyards successfully solved.

With a displacement of 5,600 tons, the frigate HESSEN is one of the biggest combat units in the German Navy. Just like its sister-ships SACHSEN und HAMBURG, the HESSEN carries the multifunctional radar APAR (Active Phased Array), which was developed in German-Dutch-Canadian collaboration, and a new kind of long-range radar.

A further innovation is the modular "Guidance and Weapons Usage System", which stands out due to a decentralised computer installation with a total of 17 on-board computer consoles. These are connected to the weapons and sensors via two ring-like light conductor cables laid in the ship. The entire software for the "Guidance and Weapons Usage System" was developed by the ARGE F124 together with the companies EADS, Thales, Atlas Elektronik as well as other software firms.

The accommodation areas are designed in such a way that additional staff personnel can be put up. Moreover, for the first time the configuration of the living quarters into different zones with separate sanitary facilities consistently takes the accommodation of female crew-members into account.