The launching of the “Nearchos”, (Belh@rra or FDI in the French Navy and Kimon-Class for the Hellenic Navy), is taking place today in the presence of the Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias.
The frigate is being built at the Naval Group’s shipyards in Lorian, France, for the Greek Navy.
Mr. Dendias is accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis and the Chief of the General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras PN.
This is the second of three FDI HN frigates (Kimon, Nearchos and Formion) which will join the Greek fleet in the coming years.
The frigate “Nearchos” has a displacement of 4,500 tons, a length of about 122 meters, a maximum speed of 27 knots, a crew of 120 people and incorporates advanced digital technologies.
Among these, among others, is the integrated sensor web PSIM (Panoramic Sensor Intelligence Module), where almost all the warship’s sensor systems are concentrated, the advanced anti-submarine warfare sonar, CAPTAS-4 type, and the full digital Sea Fire radar.
At the same time, the crew of the first frigate “Kimon” has begun intensive training to learn and familiarize themselves with the new systems, as this ship has nothing to do with what Navy officials have known so far about frigates. The Navy staff’s goal is to promote the order of a fourth frigate of the “Kimon” class, which is considered to add value to the country’s naval power.
Not far from Lorraine, in Toulon, the electronic warfare system (ECM) for the frigates is being completed. This system is considered the most modern system available for dealing with the asymmetric threats with which the Greek Armed Forces are increasingly confronted, as was recently the case with the Red Sea crisis.
