TSAMTO, September 23rd. The French company Naval Group announced the launch ceremony of the frigate FDI HN (Belharra class), "Nearhos", intended for the Greek Navy, which took place at the enterprise in Lorient.
The event was attended by Greek Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Dendias.
The Nearkhos is the second multi-purpose frigate in the series. The lead ship, the Kimon, is currently undergoing mooring tests before the start of the first sea trials. The company completed the assembly of the hull of the third frigate, Formion, in August. One of its blocks was manufactured at the Salamis Shipyards plant in Greece. It is planned that the frigates will be delivered to the Greek Navy in 2025-2026.
As reported by CAMTO, the Greek parliament approved the signing of an agreement for the supply of three French multi-purpose frigates FDI HN (Fregate de Defense et Intervention Hellenic Navy) with a total value of 3 billion. euros ($3.4 billion) in February 2022. Representatives of the Greek Ministry of Defense and Naval Group signed a contract for the supply of three FDI HN frigates 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 package also includes 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. The keel of the head frigate of the Kimon series was laid in October 2022, and the launch took place in October 2023. Sea trials of the Kimon are scheduled to begin in 2024.
Construction of the second frigate of the series, (F 602) "Nearkhos", began in July 2022. Cutting of the first steel for (F 603) "Formion" began in July 2023, the keel was laid in April 2024.
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 frigate will be 122 m long, with a maximum width of 18 m and a displacement of 4,500 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 + 28 paratroopers.
The frigate will be equipped with modern sensors, including the Thales multifunctional Sea Fire radar. The integrated mast will be equipped with sensors providing constant 360 degree surveillance. The FDI will be the first frigate on the market, initially protected from cyber threats, with two data 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, and 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). An MTR detachment with two landing craft will be able to be accommodated on board.
