is this yet another attack at the newest USF FFG?but the German concept of putting just a 5" and one or two launchers (and not adding for example anti-submarine sonar/torpedo tubes) on a destroyer-big hull is ... puzzling
Those F125 are some kind of a hybrid of multiple desires. For some time the german navy wanted some kind of an LPD light / combat support type ship. A vessel to support light amphibious approachesa nd SOF support. But also do counter-piracy, VBSS stuff etc, a F122 replacement. The F125 is what came out eventually. Like the K130, just even more so, be highly automated, with the capacity to stay deployed long term with a multi-crew concept.
Designed in a time when warfighting was a bit "out" in german politics and the softer patrolling was easier to sell, it was a political thing to not make it a real destroyer, although the navy got all the tonnage. There's still F124s for AAW and F123s for ASW.
There was the idea of putting GMLRS on the vessels. This was droped, unfortunatly. They also thought about putting a PZH2000 turret on it, tested on a F124 as the MONARCH concept. Not adopted. Apperently it worked. However, the PZH2000 not being a naval gun by design, rate of fire and traverse speed of the gun were too slow to use it as another AD weapon besides RAM. So they went for the Otobreda. The Volcano ammo will provide up to 100km range with guided ER projectiles.
I have no clue about the status of the RBS15 Mk IV, though. It went a bit silent on that front, unfortunatly. In concept an awesome missile. We still have some Harpoon, so a good interim. Although the NSM would have been great as well.
Additionally, the ship is supposed to take part in / lead (multi)national task forces.
I honestly don't know if they're built with much spare room for later refitt. But I doub't there'll be enough space left for a VLS. Maybe something like an extended range Spike-NLOS. Or a GMLRS. But I believe they'll turn out to be good and capable vessels for their intended purpose.
There might be a K131 type later on, geared more towards conventional ASuW.
On the equipment front, TerraN, that's a mess of it's own. Several years ago, when the Treassury wanted to save money to achieve a 0 debt budget, our then "star to be" SecDef zu Guttenberg made the quick announcement "I have a few billion to spare". Which of course he didn't have, but he made the move. The money was cut out of maintenance and spare reserves. That bites back really, really bad right now. When we're being told the super very high readiness reaction force element in the Bundeswehr will be fully night combat capable, it probably comes at the cost of pooling all Bw "Lucies" in that one Bataillon ...
