Bundeswehr wants to deter Putin with new naval reconnaissance ships

Wolgast. Damaged submarine cables, conspicuous ship maneuvers, suspected cases of sabotage in the Navy - against the backdrop of a tense security situation, the German Armed Forces is emphasizing the importance of three new reconnaissance ships. The first of these was laid down on Tuesday in Wolgast in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The new fleet service boat is the most modern the world has ever seen, said Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe at the keel laying ceremony. "The future is being built into it so that we have a deterrent capability in any case and make it clear to Putin: 'Don't even try with us'."

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With their sensors, the fleet service boats are intended to serve as the eyes and ears of the Bundeswehr. The current fleet service boats have been in service for several decades. They are to be replaced by the new, approximately 130-meter-long ships from 2029.

The Bremen-based Naval Vessels Lürssen Group (NVL) was awarded the contract to build the ship. The billion-euro project dates back to the time before Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Several shipyards in northern Germany are involved.

Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe, Deputy Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, stands during the keel laying of the first fleet service boat in the shipyard hall of the Peene shipyard.

Source: Stefan Sauer/dpa

Hoppe, deputy inspector general of the Bundeswehr and thus the soldier with the second highest position in the force, said that increasing aggression by Russia can be felt every day and every week everywhere on the eastern flank of NATO territory.

This hybrid warfare often takes place outside of public perception. But the potential for aggression will continue to grow.

The Inspector of the Navy, Jan Christian Kaack, also spoke of a growing threat. "Our resilience as a society is being tested." He referred to the destruction of underwater cables, but also spoke of increasing sabotage on naval ships, attempts to approach soldiers and intrusions into bases. "There is a system to the whole thing. We can no longer talk about coincidences here." Actually, everyone should have understood that the enemy is at the door and is serious.

RND/dpa