[4] While serving in Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 in 2004, Sachsen took part in training operations with the United States' aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.

[7][8] Sachsen replaced the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter in Standing Nato Maritime Group 2 on 12 December 2016, serving as the flagship of Admiral Axel Deertz during this time.

On 5 January 2018 Sachsen was assigned to EU Navfor Med, replacing the frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

[11] On 21 June 2018, Sachsen was operating with Lübeck near the Arctic Circle when it attempted to fire a SM-2 Block IIIA missile, and it exploded above the ship.

After a brief port call in Harstad, Norway, both frigates returned to their homeport of Wilhelmshaven, Germany.