Damen Shipyard announced that it had selected Rheinmetall for Germany’s F126 future frigate programme to equip the F126 frigates with MLG27-4.0 remote weapon stations (RWSs). Each vessel will be fitted with two of the systems. The German company will provide Eight MLG27-4.0 RWSs, with an option for four further RWSs to equip two optional vessels if required.
The MLG27-4.0 RWS has day and night thermal cameras and a laser rangefinder. The system is equipped with an automatic target-tracking capability and is integrated with shipboard systems. The RWS may fire to an assigned set of WGS-84 format target coordinates. The MLG27-4.0 is a gas-operated single belt-fed revolver cannon capable of attaining a maximum sustained rate of fire of 1,700 rds/min. It has single-shot and burst fire modes. German F126 frigate will replace the F123 Brandenburg-class frigates. The first frigate is planned to be commissioned in 2028. The armament weighs approximately 100 kg. It has been used on Eurofighter, Gripen, and Tornado aircraft.
