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Second fleet service boat of the Navy: Construction starts early in Wolgast
On November 19, 2025, the second fleet service boat of the Class 424 was laid down in Wolgast, a step towards the modernization of the German Navy.
Second fleet service boat of the Navy: Construction starts early in Wolgast
On November 19, 2025, an important step for the German Navy was taken at the NVL Group's Peene shipyard in Wolgast: the second of three planned Class 424 fleet service boats was ceremonially laid down. This ceremony featured senior officials from the Acquisition Office, Navy, and Cyber and Information Space (CIR) to celebrate the start of construction of this significant program. [esut.de].
The Class 424 fleet service boats have telecommunications and electronic reconnaissance as their main task and are operated by the German Navy. These modern ships are equipped with sophisticated sensors that not only collect critical data for military intelligence at sea, but also support cyber defense capabilities. In addition, technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence are used to evaluate large amounts of data in near real time. heise.de highlights that by 2030 an estimated 90 percent of all newly built ships will have such AI functions.
The context of procurement
The fleet service boat class 424 replaces the older Oste class boats, which were built between 1986 and 1989. With the approval by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag in July 2023, a procurement volume of 3.3 billion euros was approved. This decision came in the context of growing security tensions, particularly since 2014, and aims to better prepare the Navy for current threats. wikipedia.org provides information about the background to this development.
The construction of the first fleet service boat began in November 2024, with the keel being laid on February 25, 2025. The second boat, whose construction has now started ahead of schedule, was started in September 2025 and thus shows construction progress that is several months ahead of the original schedule. Delivery of all three ships is scheduled for 2031, with the Federal Navy having access to a training facility as early as 2027. The boats will not only contain key national technologies, but will also enable the Bundeswehr to improve information gathering. [esut.de](https://esut.de/2025/11/meldeen/65615/vorzeitiger-baubeginn-fuer-das-zweie- Flottendienstboot-der-klasse-424/) emphasizes that the military leadership has emphasized the importance of these ships for strategic reconnaissance.
Vice Admiral Dr. Thomas Daum highlighted the strategic importance of the new fleet service boats and emphasized the close cooperation between the CIR and international institutions to strengthen cybersecurity. This is all the more important because similar cyber departments are also active in other countries, such as at the US Cyber Command. The Navy is thus positioning itself as a decisive force in modern reconnaissance and cyber defense strategy.
The coming years will show how these new boats will be integrated into operations and what role they will play in the Navy's technological advancement.