German F124 frigate Hessen deployed with EUNAVFOR Aspides in the Red Sea from February to April 2024. Bundeswehr and EU reporting document successful engagements against Houthi aerial drones and an uncrewed surface vessel, while Reuters reported a later Houthi missile intercept during the same Red Sea crisis.
Role detailsNaval Systems
Sachsen class / F124 frigate
Also known as
- F124
- F124 Sachsen class
- Sachsen-class frigate
- Type 124 frigate
- Type 124 Sachsen-class frigate
The Sachsen class / F124 frigate is Germany's three-ship air-defense frigate class, built around SMART-L surveillance radar, APAR fire control, and layered shipboard weapons for task-group protection. Hessen's 2024 EUNAVFOR Aspides deployment moved the class from general maritime-security service into directly documented Red Sea Crisis air-defense and merchant-shipping protection engagements.
Role in Conflicts
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Germany
- Type
- Air-defense frigate class
- Service note
- 2004-present
- Produced
- 1999-2006
- Number built
- 3 ships built; 1 additional ship was cancelled
Specifications
- Displacement
- 5,800 tonnes
- Length
- 143.0 m
- Beam
- 17.4 m
- Draught
- 6.0 m
- Speed
- 29 knots
- Crew
- 236 sailors, plus 18 air personnel when embarked
- Propulsion
- CODAG with one gas turbine and two diesel engines
- Sensors
- APAR multifunction radar, SMART-L long-range radar, DSQS-21Bmod sonar, FL 1800 S electronic warfare system
- Armament
- 76 mm Compact gun, RGM-84 Harpoon, Mk41 VLS for SM-2 and ESSM, RIM-116 RAM, 27 mm MLG, and MU90 torpedoes
Variants
The published F124 family is a three-ship class; the fourth planned hull was cancelled rather than completed as a separate variant.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sachsen (F219) | Lead ship | Bundeswehr lists Sachsen as commissioned on 4 November 2004. |
| Hamburg (F220) | Second ship | Bundeswehr lists Hamburg as commissioned on 13 December 2004. |
| Hessen (F221) | Third ship; Red Sea Crisis deployment | Bundeswehr lists Hessen as commissioned on 21 April 2006; Hessen deployed to EUNAVFOR Aspides in 2024. Sources: Fregatten der Sachsen-Klasse | Bundeswehr, Red Sea - EUNAVFOR Aspides | Bundeswehr |
Shipboard Missiles
The Sachsen class centers on layered air defense, with a vertical launcher for longer-range interceptors and separate launcher sets for close-in defense and anti-surface fire.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Area-air-defense missile | Bundeswehr identifies the F124's Mk41 VLS as able to fire SM-2 missiles, giving the class its long-range air-defense layer. |
 | Point-defense missile | Bundeswehr says the same Mk41 VLS also fires ESSM, adding a shorter-range layer for defending the ship and nearby force elements. |
 | Anti-ship missile | Bundeswehr lists two Harpoon launchers on the class for engaging surface targets beyond gun range. |
Close-Range Defensive Weapons
The F124 design adds close-in hard-kill weapons around its area-air-defense missile layer.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | RAM point-defense launcher | Bundeswehr lists two RIM-116 RAM launchers on the class for defending against air attacks, including hostile missiles. |
 | 27 mm remote-controlled naval gun | Bundeswehr lists two 27 mm MLG guns on the class as part of the ship's close-range weapons fit. |
Air-Defense Architecture
Bundeswehr material describes the F124 as a layered escort built around long-range surveillance, fire-control radar, vertical-launch missiles, and close-range weapons rather than a single point-defense mount.
| Layer | Sourced equipment | Reader context |
|---|---|---|
| Long-range air picture | SMART-L air-surveillance radar, more than 400 km range, more than 1,000 tracks | Gives the ship the wide-area picture needed for task-group air defense. |
| Fire control | APAR multifunction radar with target-tracking mode | Feeds the ship's defensive weapons with engagement-quality tracking. |
| Vertical-launch missiles | Mk41 VLS with SM-2 and ESSM | Provides the main shipboard surface-to-air missile layer. |
| Close defense | RIM-116 RAM launchers, 76 mm Compact gun, and 27 mm MLG guns | Covers close air threats, surface drones, speedboats, and last-ditch self-defense tasks. |
| Aviation and undersea work | Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters and MU90 lightweight torpedoes | Adds anti-submarine reach and maritime-surveillance options around the frigate. |
Timeline
Sachsen class / F124 frigate Key Events
Sachsen enters service
Bundeswehr lists lead ship Sachsen (F219) as commissioned on 4 November 2004.
Sources: Fregatten der Sachsen-Klasse | Bundeswehr
Three-ship class completed
Hessen (F221) entered service on 21 April 2006, completing the three F124 ships that remained in the German Navy inventory.
Sources: Fregatten der Sachsen-Klasse | Bundeswehr
Hessen assigned to EUNAVFOR Aspides
Germany began participating in Operation EUNAVFOR Aspides with the F124 frigate Hessen after the Bundestag mandate for the Red Sea mission.
Sources: Red Sea - EUNAVFOR Aspides | Bundeswehr, Erste Waffeneinsätze der Fregatte Hessen | Bundeswehr
First successful Red Sea engagements
Bundeswehr said Hessen detected and successfully engaged two unmanned aerial drones during patrols in the southern Red Sea.
Sources: Erste Waffeneinsätze der Fregatte Hessen | Bundeswehr, German warship, part of EU Red Sea mission, shoots down two drones | Reuters
Hessen leaves Aspides operating area
The German defence ministry said Hessen escorted 27 merchant vessels and successfully engaged Houthi drones and missiles in four cases during the deployment.
Sources: EUNAVFOR Aspides - Fregatte Hessen beendet Einsatz | BMVg
Media
Sachsen class / F124 frigate Videos
Sachsen class / F124 frigate Images
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Fregatten der Sachsen-Klasse | BundeswehrPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports the class description, role as a German Navy air-defense frigate, technical data, radar suite, weapons fit, and in-service details for Sachsen, Hamburg, and Hessen. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Red Sea - EUNAVFOR Aspides | BundeswehrPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports Germany's EUNAVFOR Aspides participation with the 124-class frigate Hessen, the Red Sea mission context, and Hessen's sensor and weapon suitability for air defense. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Sachsen Class (F124) | Naval TechnologyPublisher: Naval Technology | Note: Supports the ARGE F124 consortium background and Blohm+Voss as the leading yard for the Sachsen class. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Operation Aspides: Luftverteidigung im Roten Meer | BundeswehrPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports Hessen deployment with Operation Aspides in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and the class's air-defense role in that mission. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Erste Waffeneinsätze der Fregatte Hessen | BundeswehrPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports direct 2023 Red Sea Crisis use: Hessen deployed with EUNAVFOR Aspides in the southern Red Sea and successfully engaged two unmanned aerial drones on 27 February 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Luftverteidigungsoffizier auf der Fregatte Hessen | BundeswehrPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports the Hessen deployment context and the class's air-defense mission during Operation Aspides. | Accessed: 2026-06-25German warship, part of EU Red Sea mission, shoots down two drones | ReutersPublisher: Reuters | Note: Supports direct 2023 Red Sea Crisis use: Reuters reported Hessen shooting down two drones while operating in the EU Red Sea mission. | Accessed: 2026-07-01German military vessel intercepts Houthi missile in Red Sea | ReutersPublisher: Reuters | Note: Supports direct 2023 Red Sea Crisis use: Reuters reported Hessen intercepting a Houthi missile in the Red Sea during the EU mission. | Accessed: 2026-07-01FGS Hessen destroys Unmanned Sea Vehicle | EEASPublisher: European External Action Service | Note: Supports direct 2023 Red Sea Crisis use: EUNAVFOR Aspides reported FGS Hessen destroying a Houthi uncrewed surface vessel while protecting merchant shipping on 21 March 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-01EUNAVFOR Aspides - Fregatte Hessen beendet Einsatz | BMVgPublisher: German Federal Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports direct 2023 Red Sea Crisis use: the defence ministry said Hessen escorted 27 merchant ships and successfully engaged Houthi drones and missiles in four cases during its Aspides deployment. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Wikimedia Commons: F221 FGS Hessen (8641416614).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 2.0 licensing context for the main Hessen class photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Wikimedia Commons: FGS Sachsen (F 219).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain licensing context for the Sachsen class photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Wikimedia Commons: F 220 German Navy frigate Hamburg on the North Sea.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC0 licensing context for the Hamburg class photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-25