F125 - class frigate F125 is the project name for the Type 125 Baden - Württemberg class of frigate s , currently in development for the German Navy by ARGE F125 , a joint - venture of Thyssen - Krupp and Lürssen . The F125 - class are officially classified as frigates but in size they are comparable to destroyers , since , with a displacement of more than 7 , 200 tons , they will be the biggest class of frigate worldwide . They are to replace the Bremen class . Design . Background . In contrast to the Bremen class , which were built with Cold War - era scenarios in mind , the F125 will have much enhanced land - attack capabilities . This will better suit the frigates in possible future peacekeeping and peacemaking missions . For such reasons , the F125 will also mount non - lethal weapons . General characteristics . Major design goals are reduced radar , infrared and acoustic signatures ( stealth technology ) , something that was introduced to the German Navy with the Brandenburg class frigate and was further developed with the Sachsen class frigate and Braunschweig class corvette . Other important requirements are long maintenance periods : It should be possible to deploy F125 class frigates for up to two years away from homeports with an average sea operation time of more than 5 , 000 hours per year ( that ' s nearly 60 % ) which includes operation under tropical conditions . For this reason , a combined diesel - electric and gas arrangement has been chosen for the machinery . This allows the replacement of large and powerful diesel engines for propulsion and sets of smaller diesel generators for electric power generation with a pool of med - sized diesel generators , reducing the number of different engines . To enhance survivability of the frigates , important systems are laid out in the " two island " principle , i . e . present at least twice at different places within the ship . This is also visible in the superstructures , which are split in two larger pyramid al deckhouse s . The aerials of the phased array radar will be distributed over the two pyramids . This will ensure that the ship remains operational in case of severe damage , such as accidents or enemy action . It will also allow F125 frigates to keep station if needed when something breaks down and no replacement is available . An initial batch of four frigates was ordered by the German Navy on 26 June 2007 . The initial batch of four ships costs around 2 . 2 billion Euros . In April 2007 , a contract with Finmeccanica was signed for delivery of Otobreda 127 mm Vulcano main guns as well as remote - controlled light gun turrets for the F125 . The initially considered 155mm MONARC gun , as well as the naval GMLRS rocket launcher , were dropped due to problems with the navalization of these land - based systems . The deal with Oto Melara had become opportune , because Germany still had counter trade obligations towards Italy , as Italy had purchased two German U212A class submarines . The F125 vessels are equipped with ten guns for defence against air and surface targets . The vessels are also armed with non - lethal weapon s , such as water cannons and searchlights for non - provocative deterrence and defence . Ships in the class . The new vessels will be named after four German states : " Baden - Württemberg " , which will be the type vessel , " Nordrhein - Westfalen " , " Sachsen - Anhalt " and " Rheinland - Pfalz " .