The German Navy has awarded a contract to Indra to install its satellite communication systems onto their Type 404 Elbe-class support ships.
Under the three-year contract, the company will manufacture, install and test the satellite communication systems in support of the German Navy’s type 404 Elbe-class logistical support vessels to enhance communications capability at sea.
Indra will install the terminals to enable secure communication in some of the most difficult conditions for the ships anywhere in the world, and will also provide training of the ships’ crews as part of the contract.
The German Navy currently operates a total of six type 404 Elbe-class ships, built by Bremer Vulkan, Kröger Werft and Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyards, to support the fast attack craft (FAC), submarine, minesweeper and corvette squadrons.
Capable of accommodating a crew of 105, the 100.6m-long Elbe-class ships have a full load displacement capacity of 3,586t and can cruise at a maximum speed of 15k, using Deutz MWM SBV diesel engines.
The vessels have a range of about 2,500nm and are armed with two Fliegerfaust 2 (Stinger) man portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and two MLG-27 27mm remote-controlled auto-cannons.
Designed to transport fuel, food, water, ammunition and spare parts to aid sea operations, the 15.4m-wide T-404 ships can act as medical vessels and has an aft helicopter deck to support the Sea King or other large helicopters.
Earlier, the company had deployed the terminals for communication through high transmission capacity satellite aboard the German Navy’s four Bremer Vulkan-built F122 Bremen-class vessels and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft-manufactured U-212 submarines.
Image: German Navy’s Elbe (A511) ship sailing at sea. Photo: courtesy of Ra Boe.
