TSAMTO, July 14. On July 13, the French company Naval Group announced a steel cutting ceremony for the second multi-purpose frigate FDI HN (Belharra class), intended for the Greek Navy, held at the enterprise in Lorient.
The contract for the supply of three FDI HN frigates with an option to build one additional one was signed in March 2022. As planned, the first two ships will be delivered to the Greek Navy in 2025, and the third in 2026.
Naval Group signed a number of contracts and cooperation agreements with Greek companies within the framework of the FDI program in Athens on June 30. For example, a contract has been signed with Emmis for the supply of electrical transformers, with Mevaco for mechanical equipment, with Stelma for painting works, and with Viking Hellas for the supply of inflatable boats with a rigid hull. In addition, the French shipbuilder has concluded cooperation agreements with Akmon, Intracom, Miltech, Prisma and Scytalys.
As reported by TSAMTO, in September 2021, Greek Defense Minister Nicolas Panagiotopoulos signed a memorandum of understanding with the French companies Naval Group and MBDA, providing for the start of negotiations on the supply of three new multi-purpose frigates to the Greek Navy FDI HN (Fregate de Defense et Intervention Hellenic Navy), as well as related equipment and weapons.
The Greek Parliament approved the signing of an agreement for the supply of three frigates with a total value of 3 billion. euro ($3.4 billion) in February 2022.
On March 24, 2022 in Athens, the General Director of the Main Directorate of Defense Investments and Armaments, Vice Admiral (retired) Aristides Alexopoulos and the Chief Executive Officer of Naval Group Pierre Eric Pommelle signed a contract for the supply of three frigates of the FDI HN. The agreement contains an option for the supply of another frigate and provides for the support of ships during operation. The contract also includes the supply of MU90 torpedoes and CANTO false targets.
As planned, the delivery of the ships will be completed in a short time: the first two – in 2025, the third – in 2026. According to Naval Group, the construction of the first frigate for the Greek Navy has already begun.
The frigate FDI HN will be a multi-purpose warship designed to solve a wide range of tasks, including anti-ship, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and support for MTR operations.
