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Kimon (F601), the first FDI HN frigate of the Hellenic Navy during the ceremonial launching at Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, France.
New Insights Emerge About Greece’s FDI HN Frigates
On October 4th 2023, the launching ceremony of the first Hellenic Navy
FDI HN Kimon (F601) took place at the Naval Group shipyards of Lorient.
Naval News attended this historical event and learned new details about
the program and the new Greek frigates.
Dimitris Mitsopoulos 13 Oct 2023

October 4, 2023, will be remembered as a deeply emotional and historical
day for all Greeks who watched online or attended at Naval Group
shipyards in Lorient, France the ceremonial launch of the first modern
Greek frigate in nearly three decades. The anticipated commissioning of
the lead ship of the Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigate in early 2025 will
herald the rejuvenation of the Hellenic Navy (HN) with one of the most formidable and cutting-edge designs on a global level. Τhe entry into
service of Kimon (F601) in 2025 will mark the beginning of a new era for Greece’s naval capabilities as several characteristics of the new
frigate are introduced for the first time in the HN.

Kimon Ministers
The ceremonial launching took place in the presence of Sébastien
Lecornu, French minister of the Armed Forces and his Greek counterpart, Nikolaos Dendias. The Chief Executive of the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) and his Greek counterpart, as well as the Chiefs of
the French and Hellenic Navies General Staff were also present at the
ceremony.
It is noteworthy that Greece has not incorporated a major surface
combatant constructed or designed by a French manufacturer into its
fleet for several decades despite the fact that the majority of its fast
attack missile craft (FACM), have French origin.

For several years, the Greek government and subsequently the leadership
of the HN engaged in extensive discussions with the French authorities regarding the acquisition of frigates, initially considering FREMM and
later the new that time FDI-class vessels. As the decision-making
process was extended, additional contenders, the best of Western naval manufacturers, gradually entered into a competitive dialogue with the
Greek side. Notably, Naval Group faced stiff competition, including a
heavier variant of the LCS design, initially referred to as MMSC and
later an even more advanced configuration known as the Hellenic Future
Frigate (HF2) by American Lockheed Martin. Other major contenders
included the SIGMA 11515 by the Dutch Damen, the MEKO A200 by German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the Arrowhead 140HN by British
Babcock, the FREMM IT (Bergamini class in ASW configuration) by Italian Fincantieri, and the F110 by Spanish Navantia.

DEFEA 2021: Hellenic Navy's Future Frigate
Our coverage of DEFEA 2021 during the Hellenic Navy frigate competition. Interview with all contenders (except the Germans who declined to comment). Ultimately, the contract was awarded to the French Naval Group for the
FDI frigates in a configuration superior to the French ones. Therefore,
on March 24, 2022, Greece signed a contract for the procurement of three Defense and Intervention Frigates (FDI) HN frigates, with an option for
one more.

Naval News had the honor of attending the ceremony, where not only
visited the under construction Greek vessel but also engaged in
enlightening conversations with key representatives from Naval Group.
During our discussions, we gleaned essential insights into the program’s intricacies and gained a deeper understanding of the features of the
newly unveiled ship.

New details about Greece’s FDI HN

View of the hangar. Note the small hangar at the left which will
accommodate a UAS with its equipment. At the right, in the big circle,
the rear LIONFISH 20 RWS will be installed. In the small circle to the
left, a helicopter approach radar will be installed. Note the numerous protection “shields” around the place where the RAM launcher will be fitted.
The French officials have stated firmly that the construction of FDI HN
is not just an export of warships to a third country, but stress that
they are supplying Greece with warships that are in some respects, at a
higher capability level than theirs. Furthermore, Greece will acquire
three FDI HN in a very short timeframe. To achieve these timeframes, the
second and third FDI frigates, originally planned for delivery to the
French Navy in 2025, will be completed as Greek ships and by 2027 will
receive the additional equipment requested by the Greek side. The
Hellenic Navy ships are being built as series production right after the
first ship of class for the French Navy, with the benefits of an
expedited delivery.

Standard 2 configuration
The conversion of the first two FDI HN to the Standard 2 configuration,
the advanced Greek one, will take place in Greece, at the Salamis Naval
Base and not at Hellenic Shipyards S.A. (Skaramangas). We remind that
the Standard 2 configuration will differ from the Standard 1 of the
French ships, with the installation of additional weapons such as 16
MBDA ASTER 30 SAM, 21-cell RAM CIWS, decoy launching systems (DLS) by
Lacroix, and enhancements in the electronic warfare equipment.
Nevertheless, the ship will be “fitted for but not with” the systems,
and there will be no need to “cut the ship” in order to install for
example the Sylver A50 VLS.


The hatch near the RHIB will uncover a twin torpedo launcher for MU90 torpedoes. The other hatches will not exist after the completion of the
ship. Note the large protection shield which is located exactly behind
where the RAM CIWS will be placed.
Since the specific equipment details of the French ships have not been disclosed and the fact that the French have not yet deiced yet to equip
the ships properly, even with DLS, we can reasonably anticipate that the
Greek frigate, even in its Standard 1 configuration, will slightly
outperform in equipment its French counterpart thanks to the
incorporation of additional equipment, such as a laser warning system
(LWS) and a 76mm gun with multi-feeder that will provide advanced
anti-missile and counter-UAV capability. We still do not know the
provider of the LWS but we may assume that it will be SAAB. It was
confirmed to us for a second time (first time was here) that eight
sensors will constitute the LWS suite covering the whole ship and
providing complete awareness of potential threats to the crew.


In the small circles, the sensors of the laser warning system (LWS).
Original image by Naval Group.
It was emphasized to us that the FDI HN will be fully equipped to
counter current and future threats thanks to its sophisticated
equipment, advanced armament and digital architecture that will allow to receive easily updates. This signifies that the ship will boast a
comprehensive communications suite (including LINK 16) and electronic
warfare suite (including the valuable R-ECM), with the added advantage
of full weapon integration, encompassing systems such as the RAM system, seamlessly within the SETIS CMS infrastructure. Regarding the R-ECM
(jammers), it was confirmed to us that a new system under development
for the French Navy, will be fitted on the Greek FDI. The new system is reported to be very advanced and compatible with the electronics of the
ship. For security and confidentiality purposes, comprehensive
information regarding the program and FDI HN’s equipment is exclusively outlined in the extended, confidential section of the contract, which
was executed in 2022. The FDI HN can be easily equipped with a
state-of-the-art R-ECM system as its electric power supply system is
designed to support it. Regarding the R-ECM, Naval Group representative
in May 2023 told to Naval News that “It is no use to have a great R-ESM
and old generation R-ECM. That’s why we try to keep state of the art technology on the FDI”. He also added that the new R-ECM system will
come most likely from Elt Roma but Thales will be in charge of the
software.

UAS and RHIB

A small hatch at the starboard side serves mainly the purpose of
facilitating easy embarkation for maritime pilots. Original image by
Naval Group.
We also reconfirmed that the Hellenic Navy has planned to integrate the Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS with the FDI HN as well as that VIKING
Norsafe Hellas will provide the RHIB for FDI HN instead of Zodiac Milpro
ECUME. Note that the frigate features a conveniently situated small door
on the starboard side, positioned slightly above sea level. This door
serves the purpose of facilitating easy embarkation for maritime pilots, eliminating the need for a ladder. Moreover, this same hatch can serve
as a secondary access option for Special Operations Forces (SOF) teams, typically situated on board the RHIB during launch or recovery operations.

Lionfish RWS

The forward RWS near the bridge. Note the space for an additional RWS at
the starboard side. Original image by Naval Group.
Regarding the exclusive information of Naval News that the LIONFISH 20
RWS will be the secondary guns of FDI HN and not the Nexter NARWHAL
which we revealed for the first time here during DEFEA 2023 in Athens,
the Navy considers this weapon system as superior to other available
systems and moreover considers Leonardo a trustful supplier, especially
in the follow on support (FOS) of the systems. The system’s impressive
rate of fire of about 1,000 rpm and its integration to the CMS and to
the asymmetrical warfare suite, will provide to the ship complete
protection from asymmetrical threats and not only.


The rear starboard RWS. There is no such space for a second rear RWS at
the portside because of the helicopter approach radar. Note the Glamox
HVLAS Glide Path Indicator near the hangar door, which equips also the
UAE Bani Yas-class (Gowind) corvettes.
From the renderings and the close observation of the ship, it is clear
that there is space for a third system at the starboard side near the
bridge but we do not know if a possible installation of such system
there will affect the performance of the ship. Nevertheless, the two RWS
will provide full coverage. Definitely, a larger caliber such as 30mm
gun could not be fitted in such small space and near the bridge. Greece
will be the first user of this advanced weapon system by installing two
such systems on each FDI HN. The same system will equip four
Island-class coastal patrol vessels which were acquired from the US
Coast Guard while it is proposed by Leonardo for the Greek corvette
program (3+1 vessels), for both candidates, Gowind 2800 of Naval Group
and FCX30 (Al Zubarah-class variant) of Fincantieri. Therefore at least
16+4 LIONFISH turrets will equip 10 Greek naval vessels in the near future.


The LIONFISH 20 RWS of Leonardo. Image by Leonardo.
Option for 4th frigate
Concerning the option for a 4th FDI HN, the French officials have
clarified that nothing has been finalized and the decision and
responsibility solely belong to the Greek side. The French are willing
to discuss an extension of the exercise of the option for ordering the
fourth FDI HN, provided that the Greek side raises the matter.

TAGS FDI HN Hellenic Navy Naval Group
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AUTHORS

Posted by : Dimitris Mitsopoulos
Dimitris Mitsopoulos is a Freelance Writer based in Athens, Greece. He
writes articles about naval ships, coast guard vessels, weapons and
fleets for various publications. Dimitris is the founder of
navalanalyses.com, a website that is dedicated to analyzing naval
developments and classes of warships with the use of graphic design and extended bibliography.

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