TSAMTO, October 9th. The Naval Group company announced the launching ceremony of the head multipurpose frigate FDI HN (Belharra class), intended for the Greek Navy, held on October 4 at the enterprise in Lorient.
The event was attended by the Minister of the Armed Forces of France Sebastian Lecornu and his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Dendias.
As planned, the ship, named (F 601) "Kimon", will be transferred to the Greek Navy in 2025.
As reported by TSAMTO, the Greek parliament approved the signing of an agreement for the purchase of three French multi-purpose frigates FDI HN (Fregate de Defense et Intervention Hellenic Navy) with a total cost of 3 billion. euro ($3.4 billion) in February 2022.
Representatives of the Greek Ministry of Defense and Naval Group signed a contract for the supply of three frigates of the FDI HN on March 24, 2022. The agreement contains an option for the supply of another frigate and provides for the support of ships during operation. The contracts also include 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. Now all frigates ordered for the Greek Navy are under construction. The laying of the keel "Kimon" took place in October 2022. Construction of the second frigate of the series, (F602) "Nearkhos", began in July 2022. Recently, the first block of the ship was delivered to the dry dock for laying the keel. In July 2023, the first steel was cut for the third frigate, (F603) "Formion". Sea trials of the Kimon are scheduled to begin in 2024, and its delivery to the Greek Navy should take place in 2025.
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, force projection, and support for MTR operations.
The length of the frigate will be 122 m, the maximum width – 18 m, displacement – 4500 tons. The ship will be equipped with a CODAD-type GEU, which allows a maximum speed of 27 knots. The autonomy will be 45 days, the crew will be 125 people + a landing group of 28 people.
The frigate will be equipped with modern sensors, including Thales' multifunctional Sea Fire radar. The integrated mast will be equipped with sensors that provide continuous monitoring at 360 degrees. The FDI will be the first frigate on the market, initially protected from cyber threats, with two data processing centers, where a significant part of the ship's applications will be located.
The frigates' armament kit will include a 76-mm artillery mount, 8 MM40 B3C Exocet anti-ship missiles developed by MBDA, 4 torpedo tubes with MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes developed by Naval Group, 32 Aster-15/30 missiles, RAM missiles, CANTO false targets. The ships will be able to simultaneously use helicopters (class 10 tons, for example NH-90) and unmanned aerial vehicles for vertical takeoff and landing (class up to 700 kg). The MTR detachment with two landing boats will be able to be accommodated on board.