Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias visited Italy for talks with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto. According to Naval News, among other things, the heads of military departments discussed the potential purchase by Athens of Italian frigates of the FREMM type under the "2+2" scheme.
Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, together with the Chief of Staff of the Greek Navy, Vice Admiral Dimitrios Eleftherios Kataras, visited La Spezia on Monday, September 29, on the first day of the SEAFUTURE exhibition. The negotiations took place aboard the Italian FREMM-class frigate Spartaco Shergat.
Frigate "Emilio Bianchi", Italy
www.mod.mil.gr
The central topic of discussion was the potential acquisition by Greece of two (with the possibility of increasing to four) Bergamini-class frigates (FREMM IT) built by Fincantieri. This will significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Greek Navy and complement the purchase of four French frigates of the FDI class.
In the presence of the ministers, a Memorandum of Cooperation in the naval field was signed, as well as an agreement of intent on the acquisition of two FREMM-class frigates.
Nikos Dendias stressed that the acquisition of "two or four ships with outstanding capabilities and in excellent condition" would significantly strengthen the Greek Navy, marking the beginning of a "New Era" under the Agenda 2030 program. He noted the prospect of upgrading the ships in cooperation with Fincantieri, including the integration of new-generation ELSA (European Long-Range Strike Approach) missiles, which are also designed for FDI-type frigates. Dendias also noted that Greece is rapidly closing the gap in opportunities created by the decade-long financial crisis.
Speaking before the Greek parliament's committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs last week, Dendias said that the negotiations in Italy were not a decision on the purchase, but marked the beginning of formal negotiations. By now, representatives of the Greek Navy have managed to check the technical condition of two Italian FREMM–class frigates, the lead Carlo Bergamini and Carlo Margottini. It is possible that officers of the Greek Navy will inspect the frigate Virginio Fasan in the near future. This ship is also considered as a potential option for purchase.
A potential agreement between the two countries is of both operational and strategic importance. For Greece, the acquisition of FREMM-type frigates means obtaining proven multi-purpose warships in the face of persistent regional security challenges and the need to replace outdated frigates.
If all goes according to plan, by the early 2030s, the Greek Navy will have eight modern frigates of the FREMM and FDI types. The reinforcement of the fleet with four upgraded Hydra-class frigates (a version of the German MEKO 200HN project) will create a powerful and combat-ready squadron.
For Italy, this agreement will strengthen bilateral ties with a key partner in NATO and the EU, as well as consolidate the country's position as a supplier of advanced offshore platforms. In recent years, Greece has purchased only one vessel from Italian shipbuilders, the Etna–class tanker, commissioned in the early 2000s. In addition, the sale of the first FREMM–class frigates will allow the Italian navy to replace them with new, more advanced frigate ships of the next generation FREMM EVO.
Ten FREMM–class frigates have been built for the Italian Navy (six units in a multi–purpose version, four in an anti-submarine version). The first eight ships were delivered one at a time, annually from 2012 to 2019. In early June 2020, the Italian authorities approved the sale to the Egyptian Navy of the last two FREMM-class frigates built for the Italian Navy but not yet put into service. To replace them, Fincantieri began construction of two additional ships in 2021. The last of them was handed over to the Italian navy in August of this year.
