See impressive photos of the first Greek frigate Belh@ara under construction in French Naval Group

Gilles Langlois Naval Group Program Director for Hellenic Navy Frigates, said: “The program continues to progress as planned”

The Greek FDI HN frigate program reached new major milestones ensuring its smooth evolution, which has been achieved by the Naval Group in recent weeks.

In particular, just seven weeks after the placement of the first block of the FDI HN1 in the tank, at the Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, five pre-equipped sections of the first Greek frigate of the “KIMON” class, were placed on the longitudinal, with the first two sections already welded between them.

The diesel engines, reducers, and generator sets have already been delivered to Lorient and their installation on board will begin before the end of the year.

 

Gilles Langlois Naval Group Program Director for Hellenic Navy Frigates, said: “The program continues to progress as planned, with several milestones achieved in recent weeks. We are proud of the efficient work carried out by the teams in Lorient, which will enable us to deliver the ship in 2025.”

A large program for Greek industry

Thanks to a coherent cooperation plan with Greek industry (HIP, Hellenic Industry Participation Plan), the FDI HN program is creating significant industrial opportunities for Greece, creating jobs and adding value to the country. Naval Group teams have already established numerous collaborations with Greek industrial partners and have signed various contracts with the Greek industry.

Naval Group’s Greek Industrial Participation plan has contributed to the construction of FDI HN but also to the creation of a strong maritime industrial ecosystem. The structured and long-term partnerships proposed by the French company strengthen production in Greece as well as the ability to address and cover future needs.

Powerful, innovative, and cyber-secure multi-role combat frigate

The FDI HN has high-level capabilities in all areas of warfare: against ships, against air threats, anti-submarine operations as well as special forces attacks. Her protection against air and surface threats is ensured by the most modern sensors, including Thales Sea Fire, the first multi-function multi-digital radar with 4 fixed antenna arrays.

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

Technical characteristics of the FDI HN:

• Displacement: 4,500 tons
• Length: approximately 122 meters
• Width: 18 meters
• Maximum speed: 27 knots
• Aerial Means: 10-ton helicopter, VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

FDI HN’s main weapons:

• 32 MBDA Aster missiles
• 8 Exocet MM40 MBDA B3C surface-to-surface missiles
• RAM missiles •
Naval Group MU 90 torpedoes
• 76mm Gun
• 4 Torpedo Tubes •
Naval Group CANTO Torpedo Countermeasures

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