Pistorius made the announcement during the keel-laying ceremony for the third vessel of the class at the Peene Shipyard (NVL Group / Rheinmetall) in Wolgast.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Pistorius emphasized the strategic importance of the platform: "These ships see what others cannot see and hear what others cannot hear. As our eyes and ears on the high seas, they will ensure our situational awareness in a complex security environment."
The addition of the fourth vessel represents a 33.3% capacity expansion over current fleet planning, with the budget approval draft officially submitted to the Federal Diet (Bundestag). While the final price and name of the fourth ship await parliamentary approval, the first three vessels will be named Oker, Isar, and Saale.
The Type 424 project reached its first milestones with the first steel-cutting on November 21, 2024, followed by its keel-laying on February 25, 2025. The keel for the second vessel was laid on November 19, 2025, and the steel-cutting for the third ship took place on April 16, 2026. Deliveries are scheduled to begin with the lead ship in 2029, with the full fleet expected to be operational by 2031.
The new Type 424 class will replace the three aging Oste-class vessels (Oste, Oker, and Alster) built in 1988–1989. However, the new platforms represent far more than a one-to-one replacement, introducing significant upgrades in both size and technological capabilities.
Measuring approximately 132 meters in length with a displacement of 3,500 to 4,000 tons, each Type 424 vessel will accommodate a total crew of 100 personnel, comprising 50 ship operations crew and 50 intelligence specialists assigned to the Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIR).
Beyond acting as mere sensor carriers, the Type 424 class stands out for its on-board real-time data processing capability. The platforms will perform real-time interception of radio and communication networks, detection and analysis of radar and electronic emissions, acoustic signature tracking of surface and subsurface assets, as well as visual and infrared tracking of air, naval, and coastal entities.
For self-defense, the ships will be upgraded from existing 27 mm systems to 30 mm (30 x 173 mm) automatic cannon systems, providing enhanced counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) and close-in threat defense capabilities.
This strategic procurement comes amid heightened military activity in the Baltic Sea following the Russia-Ukraine War, driven by increasing threats to critical undersea energy and communication infrastructure.