As part of the recently announced investment plan worth over 25 billion euros, Greece has revealed that it acquired from France a new batch of Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles to equip its Navy, with the corresponding contract having been signed this week. The news has already been confirmed by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, who detailed that the batch would consist of 16 French-manufactured missiles, although the cost of the acquisition has not yet been specified.
Expanding on the details, the contract in question was signed in Athens by important Hellenic and French authorities, among them the Director General of the General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDDIA), Major General Ioannis Bouras, and Annie Kristina Ramon, representative of the company MBDA (manufacturer of the missiles). The signing was also witnessed by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who is currently on an official visit to the Greek capital to strengthen the strategic bond between the two countries; he visited the port of Piraeus where the French frigate Alsace is located, as well as the Salamis Shipyards.
Regarding the destination of the Exocet MM40 Block 3C missiles purchased by Greece, specialized media have reported that they will equip the HS Karathanasis (P78) and HS Vlachakos (P79), two fast attack missile boats belonging to the Roussen class. These are two vessels that entered service in 2020 and 2022 respectively, and which are currently equipped with Exocet missiles in their Block 2 and 3 variants, also used by the first five ships of the aforementioned class. Each unit is capable of carrying up to 8 missiles that complement a main OTO 76/62 Super Rapid gun and 21-cell RAM anti-aircraft missile launchers, among other weaponry.
Having mentioned the previous variants of the missile acquired by Greece, it is useful to review the features of the Exocet MM40 Block 3C, whose capabilities are far superior to the current inventory of the Hellenic Navy’s missile boats. Its main advantage lies in the incorporation of a new guidance system effective in any weather condition and against a wide range of targets, even those equipped with electronic countermeasures, thanks to its advanced J-band seeker. According to the manufacturer, the weapon has a range of up to 250 kilometers, which represents a considerable improvement compared to previous variants.
Finally, it is worth noting that the purchase of the Exocet MM40 Block 3C missiles may not be the only deal promoted by Paris and Athens, as the potential acquisition of a fourth Belharra-class frigate was also discussed to strengthen the Greek Navy’s combat capabilities. Specifically, the acquisition would expand the contract signed in 2022 for three ships—HS Kimon, HS Nearchos, and HS Formion—by adding the new HS Themistocles if the operation is carried out. The renewal plans for the Greek Navy can also be seen in the recent announcement regarding the modernization of the U214 submarines, in addition to the intention to upgrade four Hydra-class (MEKO 200HN) frigates currently in service.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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