If plans remain to replace 8 Bremen with 4 F125, then we may start seeing the first Bremen/F122 on the used market around 2010. It is true that the first French Leygues and Italian Maestrale will also appear around that timeframe, but there still is quite a market for these standard FFGs with Sea sparrow and Harpoons and good ASW... (i) Pakistan (ii) Thailand (iii) Egypt (iv) Brazil ...
The F122 will receive a limited MLU over the next 3-4 years (as crazy as that sounds, being decommissioned soon after). They'll receive Link 16, a new/upgraded C3 systems, and new navigation systems. The first F125 is planned to commission 2013-2014, the last 2016-2017. Presumably 2 F122 will decommission for each F125 that commissions, in close time relationship at least. So, the first not before 2012-2013.
The Harpoon missiles of the F122 will be reused for the F125 btw (as interim solution until the RBS-15 Mk 4 is out), same for the RAM launchers (and the other half there can promptly go to the Type 702 AORs, since those didn't get any to save money). And of course the helos will remain in the fleet. All to save money. The SeaSparrow Mk29 launchers won't be upgraded btw, and will decommission with the ships (since there are no other German Ships with Mk29).
And yeah, Pakistan is one of the markets i thought would remain. However, both Pakistan and Egypt are classic "donation navies" (as in, get the ships donated, mostly from the US). Not much money to make there anyway. Brazil - i dunno, replacing the Niterois or the Type 22 with ships that were built just 5 years later? We could maybe get that market with Meko A200s, but i doubt the F122 would be attractive there. Bulgaria could go for one or two F122. Malaysia too for a few, depends on how it develops there (shortcut the Kedah to six units, buy 4 F122 as interim?). Depending on the situation, Venezuela might also open up. Thailand - does Thailand have money at all?
Regarding the German budget, folks you're being too humble
the deficit hasn't just come below 3%, it is almost disappearing (latest estimates talk of 1%). In such a situation (which is likely to remain for a while given very strong exports despite a too strong euro) the defence ministry is bound to receive some extra funding if it shouts loud enough.
And they do, and they get it. They just went ahead and said "we want 1 billion extra". So, of course, they only got 600 million or so (with a long planned increase of 300 million included). Should teach em to ask for 2 billion next time
Long-term budget planning in Germany has the aim of pushing the deficit to literally zero - current intention is pushing for 0-0.5% deficit in 2009, and 0.5% profit in 2011. The defence ministry, economy ministry and the transport ministry are the ones that put a crimp in that planning, by demanding increases in their budgets.
You could also see it like this: In 2007, total income for the budget was 214 billion, plus 22 billion in deficit (10% of the budget). The same year, the defence ministry got 28.4 billion euro, or about 12% of the budget. It's not that bad, but it's not the priority in giving away money. Priority is to get the deficit gone. Completely.
nice idea i just have a few questions about it
one is the placement of the axillary hanger deck in front of the superstructure i image in that it increases the risk of flight ops much more than a typical system as the wind on deck pushes the helos towrdes the superstructure rather than if it was mounted on the stern. when trying to land and the on deck [dose any one have any images of helo which is landing in front of a large superstructure not a carrier superstructure but much larger] i imagine that that would cause problems in creating the Axillary hanger deck in front of the superstructure and i think the UNREP gear would have to be deleted as it would conflict with the helo ops.
i like the modularizes kit as it makes it very versatile
The forward deck wouldn't be directly in front of the superstructure, but about 30-40 meters away from the superstructure towards the bow. If you'd raise the flight deck itself by say 5-6 meters above the weather deck, there wouldn't be that much issue with the UNREP gear, or the containers between the superstructure and the flight deck either, interfering.
There have been flight deck arrangements on other ships which seriously hurt my head just to look at. For example the French Ouragan TCDs, which have a aft flight spot above the rear tank deck (with standard approach path), and another flight spot on top of the superstructure (with an island like on a carrier placed next to it). To have them both operable at the same time, the forward flight spot has a diagonal approach part from 45 degrees starboard aft, and a third flight spot next to the island is marked auxiliary-only - since you can't approach it without overflying the other two or risking crashing into the island.
