commonality of parts to reduce maintenance costs; they were built using MEKO modular construction and incorporate seven watertight compartments. The primary improvement over the earlier vessels is the significantly reduced radar signature. The ships were designed with a capacity for an extra of weight, to allow for future additions of new weapons and sensors without compromising the ships' efficiency. The ships of the Sachsen class are equipped with a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system. The two operating shafts work independently. The diesel engines are installed in a non-walkable sound-proof capsule. The shafts drive two five-bladed variable-pitch propellers. The General Electric LM2500 PF/MLG gas turbine is rated at and the MTU 20V 1163 TB93 diesels provide a combined . The total propulsion system provides a top speed of ; while operating the diesels only, the ships can cruise for at a speed of . The ships are equipped with four 1,000 kilowatt diesel generators that operate at 400 Volts (V) and 115 V. Steering is controlled via the Rudder Roll System, which communicates information about the ship's position and rudder dampening signals, allowing the ships to maintain "almost unprecedented stability" in as high as sea state 5. Armament These ships were optimized for the anti-air warfare role. The primary anti-air weapons are the 32-cell Mk 41 Mod 10 vertical launching system, equipped with twenty-four SM-2 Block IIIA missiles and thirty-two Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles. Point-defense against cruise missiles is provided by a pair of 21-round Rolling Airframe Missile launchers. The ships are also equipped with two four-cell RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers. In 2013, the German Navy considered modifying the ships' long-range search radar to allow the SM-2 missiles to be used in an anti-ballistic missile capacity. For defense against submarines, the frigates carry two triple-launchers for the MU90 Impact torpedoes. The ships also carry a variety of guns, including one dual-purpose 62-caliber gun manufactured by OTO Melara. They are also armed with two Rheinmetall MLG 27 remote-controlled autocannons in single mounts. In January 2003, Hamburg had a modified Panzerhaubitze 2000 turret with a gun fitted experimentally for the Modular Naval Artillery Concept. The experiment was a feasibility study for the projected F125-class frigate. The gun had a range of and a rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute. Sachsen and her sister ships are equipped with a flight deck and hangar that can accommodate two Super Lynx