Kimon-class frigate explained

The Kimon class, also known as the FDI HN, is a frigate class for the Hellenic Navy. The FDI HN is a more heavily armed version of the French frigates. The lead ship is expected to be commissioned in early 2025.

History

In September 2021, Greece signed an agreement with France's Naval Group to purchase three FDI HN frigates with an option for one more for the Hellenic Navy as part of a €3 billion ($3.34 bn) defence package.[1] [2] [3]

It was reported that the Hellenic Navy ships would eventually carry a more extensive weapons fit, capable of carrying up to 32 Aster-30 air defence missiles. This will permit the Hellenic Navy to operate three ships with 32 air defence missiles plus 21 point defence missiles in a Mk31 21-cell launcher of RAM Block 2B surface-to-air missiles, 8 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship missiles, 2 dual launchers MU90 torpedoes and SYLENA Mk1 decoy launching systems (DLS) for CANTO anti-torpedo decoys. Two of the vessels, destined for the French Navy in 2025, now will be delivered to the Hellenic Navy. The date of the construction agreement was anticipated to be at late 2021 or early 2022.[4]

In 19 September 2024 during the event of launching ceremony for the frigate “Nearchos”, the Defense Minister announced that Greece is starting procedures to acquire a fourth frigate of the same type. He also revealed that Greece will proceed with the order of strategic MdCN missiles. This was later confirmed by the Prime Minister of Greece via social media.[5] [6]

Construction

In December 2021 it was reported that an agreement for construction had been signed by France and Greece[7] with the actual contract for the construction of the ships having been signed on 24 March 2022.[8] [9] In February 2022, documents released by the Greek Parliament indicated that initially the first two frigates for the Hellenic Navy would be equipped similar to their French counterparts in a "Standard-1" configuration (with 16 Sylver A50 cells). By 2027 the two ships would be upgraded to a "Standard-2" configuration with 32 A-50 cells as well as with the RAM Block 2B. The third Hellenic Navy frigate would be built from the outset in the "Standard-2" configuration.[10]

As of January 2023, 23 contracts had been signed with Greek companies participating in the frigates' construction, with 10 more during the same year.[11] [12] Such contracts include construction of pre-outfitted blocks in Salamis Shipyards and shipment to France for assembly (starting from the third Greek frigate, and constructed for both Greek and French frigates).[13]

In 2024 it was decided to adjust the production sequence by reassigning the fourth and fifth vessels in the production series. The fourth vessel (the previous Amiral Louzeau - D661), previously assigned to France, would instead be allocated to Greece, while the fifth ship in the series (the previous Formion - F603), previously assigned to Greece, would be destined for the French Navy instead. Each vessel would be renamed accordingly.[14] It was unclear how this reallocation might impact the original intent to have the third Greek FDI built in an enhanced "Standard-2" configuration.

List of ships

Pennant no.Name Builder Launched CommissionedStatusNote
F-601Naval Group
Lorient		21 October 20224 October 2023early 2025Fitting out[15] [16]
F-602late 202319 September 2024late 2025Fitting out[17] [18] [19]
F-60315 April 2024-early 2026Under construction[20]
F-60? (?)TBD

Naming

According to the Hellenic Navy, the ships will be named after three great ancient Greek admirals: Cimon (el|Κίμων|Kímon|translit-std=ISO), Nearchus and Phormio .[21] The fourth frigate, which was announced to be in the acquisition process on, will likely bare the name of the fourth great ancient Greek admiral Themistocles . These names had previously been used for the ex-US s in service with the Hellenic Navy from 1991 to 2004.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Psaropoulos. John. Greece, France tout European defence autonomy with warships deal. Aljazeera.
  2. Web site: Naval News . Staff . 2022 . Greece and Naval Group Ink contract for 3 FDI HN frigates .
  3. Web site: Papadimas . Lefteris . Lewis . Barbara . 2024-09-19 . Greece plans to buy fourth frigate, cruise missiles from France . live . https://archive.today/20240919165130/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/greece-plans-buy-fourth-frigate-cruise-missiles-france-2024-09-19/ . 2024-09-19 . 2024-10-07 . . en.
  4. Web site: Vavasseur . Xavier . 28 September 2021 . Latest Details On The Deal Between France And Greece For 3 FDI Frigates . Naval News.
  5. Web site: Mitsopoulos . Dimitris . 2024-09-20 . Greece Initiates Talks for 4th FDI HN Frigate and Cruise Missiles . 2024-10-06 . Naval News . en-US.
  6. Web site: Mitsotakis . Kyriakos . Kyriakos Mitsotakis . 2024-09-19 . registration . live . https://archive.today/20241006213743/https://www.facebook.com/kyriakosmitsotakis/posts/pfbid046KE11RrNDu9wSBhVk2aHGWbtXjAdeZi3vgbamk6gNh5WswSXreF6AgTcMHK86vYl . 2024-10-06 . 2024-10-06 . . el . social media post . Καθώς η χώρα μας ετοιμάζεται να υποδεχθεί την πρώτη φρεγάτα Belharra και την ημέρα που στα ναυπηγεία της Naval Group στο Lorient καθελκύεται η δεύτερη ενώ κατασκευάζεται η τρίτη, ξεκινούν οι διαδικασίες για την προμήθεια και τέταρτου σκάφους αυτού του τύπου. Γίνεται, έτσι, πράξη το μεγάλο πρόγραμμα ενίσχυσης των Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων που εξαρχής είχα προσωπικά εξαγγείλει. Η δαπάνη της νέας αγοράς έχει προϋπολογιστεί κατά τρόπο που δεν διαταράσσει τη δημοσιονομική μας συνέπεια. Κρίθηκε, ωστόσο, απαραίτητη αφού η θωράκιση της πατρίδας αποτελεί αδιαπραγμάτευτη προτεραιότητα. Η Ελλάδα όλο και πιο ισχυρή. . As our country prepares to welcome the first Belharra frigate and the day the second one is launched at the Naval Group's shipyards in Lorient and the third one is under construction, the procedures for the procurement of a fourth vessel of this type are starting. The major programme to strengthen the Armed Forces that I personally announced from the outset is thus becoming a reality. The cost of the new purchase has been budgeted in a way that does not disturb our budgetary consistency. It has, however, been deemed necessary since the armouring of the homeland is a non-negotiable priority. Greece is becoming ever so stronger..
  7. Web site: France confirms the acquisition of three FDI HN or Belharra-class frigates by Greece . navyrecognition.com . 12 December 2021.
  8. Web site: Greece And Naval Group Ink Contract For 3 FDI HN Frigates . Naval News . 24 March 2022.
  9. Web site: Greek MoD: Ultra-Modern FDI Frigate to protect Greece, Gowind Corvette Very Strong Candidate . navalnews.com . Vavasseur . Xavier . 17 January 2022.
  10. Web site: Greek Parliament Releases The Details Of FDI Frigate Deal . Navalnews.com . Osberk . Tayfun . 13 February 2022.
  11. Web site: New steps for Hellenic companies on-board FDI HN frigates . Defense Arabia . 20 December 2022.
  12. Web site: Παναγιωτόπουλος: Στα 28 ανέρχονται μέχρι στιγμής τα συμβόλαια που έχει υπογράψει η ΕΑΒ για τις νέες φρεγάτες και τα Rafale . iNEWSgr . 10 January 2023.
  13. Web site: Blocks of Greek frigate "Formion" currently in France for assembly . Defence Redefined . 6 February 2024.
  14. Web site: FDI : la quatrième frégate, initialement prévue pour la France, est réattribuée à la Grèce . Mer et Marine . Groizeleau . Vincent . 22 March 2024.
  15. Web site: Naval Group met sur cale la première FDI grecque . Mer et Marine . fr . 21 October 2022.
  16. Web site: Video: Naval Group Launches HS Kimon, First FDI Frigate For The Hellenic Navy . naval-news.com . 6 October 2023.
  17. Web site: Naval Group launches the HS Kimon, first FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy . Naval Group . 5 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Naval Group launches HS Nearchos, second FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy . Naval News . 19 September 2024.
  19. Web site: FDI : Naval Group prépare la mise à l'EAU de la deuxième frégate grecque | Mer et Marine . 5 September 2024 .
  20. Web site: Naval Group Lays Keel Of 3rd FDI Frigate For The Hellenic Navy . Naval News . 23 April 2024.
  21. Web site: Vallianatos . Nikolaos . Πολεμικό Ναυτικό - Επίσημη Ιστοσελίδα - Ονοματοδοσία Νέων Υπο Πρόσκτηση Φρεγατών FDI HN . 27 September 2022 . www.hellenicnavy.gr . el-gr.

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