German Navy hopes to benefit from investment in third support ship

The German Navy is to acquire a third Berlin-class (Type 702) underway replenishment ship by 2012 at a cost of about EUR330 million (USD436 million): some 35 per cent higher than previously budgeted. A contract between the country's ARGE shipbuilding consortium and the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement was concluded in mid-December 2008 and announced by the consortium on 12 January 2009

[first posted to http://jni.janes.com - 15 January 2009]