Greece Launches Second FDI Frigate HS Nearchos in Lorient

The launching ceremony of the second FDI frigate, Hellenic Ship (HS) Nearchos, took place at the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient, France.

The event was attended by key officials, including Nikolaos Dendias, the Minister of National Defence of Greece, and General Gaël Diaz de Tuesta, representing the French General Armament Directorate. Other prominent attendees included General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), and Vice Admiral Dimitrios E. Kataras, Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff (HNGS).

HS Nearchos was launched into the Scorff River, joining her sister ship, HS Kimon, which is currently undergoing harbor trials before beginning sea trials. HS Nearchos will receive its Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM) in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the third frigate, HS Formion, is progressing through construction, with its hull assembly completed in August 2024 after the keel-laying of its first block in April. One section of HS Formion was manufactured by Salamis Shipyards in Greece, reflecting the industrial cooperation between the two countries.

All three FDI frigates, scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026, are expected to enhance Greece’s naval capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The FDI-class frigates are 4,500-ton warships designed for multipurpose naval operations, including anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-ship combat, along with special forces projection. Equipped with systems developed by Thales and MBDA, HS Nearchos is armed with Exocet MM40 B3C anti-ship missiles, Aster anti-air missiles, MU90 torpedoes, and RAM systems. The frigate also has aviation facilities for a  10-ton class helicopter and aa VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The technical specifications of the FDI frigate include a length of 122 meters, a width of 18 meters, and a maximum speed of 27 knots. The ship's armaments feature 32 Aster missiles, 8 Exocet missiles, RAM missiles, MU90 torpedoes, and a 76mm gun.