French shipbuilder Naval Group has achieved the technical launch of the inaugural Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigate, marking a significant moment for Greece and its Hellenic Navy. This milestone follows a comprehensive agreement signed by Greek authorities and French defence manufacturers, including Naval Group, MBDA, and Thales, in March 2022.
Under the agreement, Greece is set to acquire three (with an optional fourth) Defense and Intervention Frigates (FDI) customized for the Hellenic Navy (HN), complete with an integrated weapons package and logistics support. These vessels will be named after renowned Greek generals and admirals.
The official launch ceremony for the first Greek FDI HN, Kimon (F601), is scheduled for October 4, 2023, in Lorient, France. The event will be attended by high-ranking officials from both Greece and France, including Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of the Armed Forces, and his Greek counterpart, Nikolaos Dendias, alongside Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff. Kimon (F601) is expected to join the Greek Fleet during the initial months of 2025, representing an impressive construction timeline that began with the keel laying in October 2022.
The introduction of the Kimon-class frigate marks a pivotal moment for Greece, as it will be the first new major surface combatant in 25 years, following the commissioning of the last Hydra-class (MEKO 200HN) frigate, Salamis. Kimon's entry into service in 2025 will usher in a new era for Greece's naval capabilities, introducing several characteristics not previously seen in the Navy. The most significant addition will be integrating the ASTER 30 SAM system and the cutting-edge SEAFIRE radar. This marks a significant advancement in air defence capabilities, with the last major vessels capable of providing a robust defensive umbrella being the four former United States Navy C.F. Adams-class destroyers (D218 Kimon), decommissioned around 20 years ago, which were armed with the 40km-range SM-1 SAM. Current frigates rely on the ESSM Block 1 (Hydra-class) and NSSM (Elli-class) for air defence.
It is worth noting that the construction of the second FDI HN, Nearhos (F602), began ahead of schedule on July 13, 2022, deviating from the initial contract estimate of October 31, 2022. A similar scenario occurred for the third FDI HN, Phormion (F603), with its inaugural steel plate cutting on July 12, 2023, instead of the originally projected date of October 31, 2023. Naval Group has successfully achieved a 36-month construction timeline for these vessels.
The first two FDI frigates will enter service in the French configuration (Standard 1) because they were initially destined for the French Navy (Marine Nationale), which has ordered five vessels of this type. These Kimon-class frigates will replace the non-modernized Elli-class (Kortenaer-class) frigates. By 2026, Phormion (F603) will enter service and become the first ship in the powerful Hellenic Navy (Standard 2) configuration. This configuration includes, among other upgrades, 16 additional ASTER 30 SAMs, a 21-cell RAM CIWS, and decoy launching systems by Lacroix. The first two FDI HN frigates will be converted to the Standard 2 configuration by 2027.
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With an array of state-of-the-art sensors and weapons capable of supporting a wide spectrum of modern naval operations, the FDI HN will unquestionably rank among the most powerful surface combatants in its class and represent one of the most sophisticated designs on a global scale. Combining cutting-edge naval technologies on a compact platform, the 4,550-ton FDI HN is a powerful, multipurpose, and innovative frigate with the highest levels of automation and control, designed to meet evolving threats.
Greece's original plan outlined the procurement of four new frigates. However, whether the Greek government will choose to exercise the option for a fourth vessel remains uncertain. If pursued, this fourth frigate will likely be named after one of the most famous naval heroes (and politicians) in Greek history, Themistocles.
