Rheinmetall’s order to overhaul the German Navy frigate Bayern in practice captures a trend under way across European navies: whilst waiting for new ships to arrive, navies increasingly need to keep older platforms operational for longer. At the end of Q2 2026, Rheinmetall was awarded a contract worth in the region of several hundred million euros to modernise the 143m-long Bayern, a Class 123 frigate commissioned in 1996. Under the deal, the vessel is due to remain operational until at least 2035, with its capability profile adapted to current requirements. A spokesperson for the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information