New Delhi, Mar 24

Greece and Naval Group signed the contracts for three  defence and intervention frigates, plus one optional, and their in-service  support. Two FDI HN (Hellenic Navy) will be delivered in 2025 and the third  one in 2026. 

Strategic Partnership with Greece  

In accordance with the defence agreement signed last October between Greece and France, the  Hellenic authorities have signed two contracts with Naval Group for the supply of three Defence  and Intervention Frigates (FDI HN), plus one optional, as well as their in-service support. The  contracts include as well the supply of MU90 torpedoes and CANTO countermeasures.  

The contracts were signed today in Athens by Vice-Admiral (rtd) Aristeidis Alexopoulos, General  Director of the General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments, and Pierre Éric  Pommellet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Naval Group, in the presence of the Greek  Minister of Defence, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos and the French Minister of the Armed Forces,  Florence Parly.  

Pierre Éric Pommellet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Naval Group said: “Naval Group is  proud, along with its French industrial partners Dassault, MBDA and Thales, to be a part of this  new chapter in the strategic alliance between Greece and France. Greece has chosen the latest  generation of frigates that bring together the best of French naval know-how and will strengthen  the capabilities of the Hellenic Navy. The frigates program is the first of many steps in the  partnership between Naval Group and the Hellenic Navy and will contribute to the development of  the partnership between our countries, our navies and our industries for decades to come.”  

The FDI HN will quickly and sustainably enhance the capabilities of the Hellenic Navy's surface fleet  as they will be delivered in a very short timeframe, starting in 2025 for the first two units and in  2026 for the third one.  

A major program for the Hellenic industry  

Thanks to a very ambitious cooperation plan with the Hellenic industry (HIP, Hellenic Industry  Participation Plan), this program offers numerous industrial opportunities in Greece, creating jobs  and skills in the country. Naval Group's teams have been working in Greece for several months to  establish partnerships with local industrial players with the objective of signing the first contracts  in the coming months. With its R&D component, the cooperation plan is a sustainable plan that is fully in line with the objective of strengthening the European defence industrial and technological  base through Franco-Greek cooperation.  

A powerful, innovative and cyber-secure frigate  

The FDI HN features high level capabilities in all warfare domains: anti-ship, anti-air,  antisubmarine and special forces projection. Its air and surface defences are ensured by the  most modern sensors, including the Thales Sea Fire, the first all-digital multifunction radar with  an active antenna and fixed panels.  

The FDI HN is equipped with a unique integrated mast that brings together all the airborne  sensors, enabling permanent 360° surveillance. As the first frigate on the market to be natively  protected against the cyber threat, the FDI HN is equipped with two data centers hosting almost  all of the ship's applications.  

Technical specifications 

- Displacement: 4,500 tons  

- Length: approx. 122 metres  

- Width: 18 metres  

- Maximum speed: 27 knots  

- Aviation facilities: 10-ton class helicopter, VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)  The main armaments of the FDI HN are:  

- 32 Aster missiles developed by MBDA  

- 8 Exocet MM40 B3C missiles developed by MBDA  

- RAM missiles  

- MU 90 torpedoes developed by Naval Group  

- 76 mm gun  

- 4 torpedo tubes  

- CANTO counter measures developed by Naval Group