The launch of the “Nearchos,” the second FDI HN frigate—also known as Belh@rra—of the “Kimon” class, is currently taking place in the presence of Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias. The frigate is being constructed at the Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, France, for the Hellenic Navy.

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Mr. Dendias is accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, and the Chief of the Hellenic Navy, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras.

In a related post, Nikos Dendias mentioned: “Arrival at the Lann-Bihoué Air Base in France, where I was officially welcomed by the French authorities before heading to the Naval Group Shipyards in Lorient for the launch ceremony of the new FDI HN Frigate ‘Nearchos’.”

Άφιξη στην Αεροπορική Βάση της Lann-Bihoué στη Γαλλία, όπου πραγματοποιήθηκε επίσημη υποδοχή από τις γαλλικές αρχές, πριν από τη μετάβαση στα Ναυπηγεία της @navalgroup στη Lorient, για την τελετή καθέλκυσης της νέας Φρεγάτας FDI ΗΝ «Νέαρχος». #Belharra pic.twitter.com/jKz7zyWJhX

— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) September 19, 2024

This is the second of three FDI HN frigates, (Kimon, Nearchos and Formion) known as “Belharra”, of the Navy, 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 about frigates to date. 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 Lorient, in Toulon, the electronic warfare system (ECM) for the Belh@rra frigates is being completed. This system is considered the most modern system available to deal with the asymmetric threats with which the Greek Armed Forces are increasingly confronted, as was recently the case with the Red Sea crisis.