During a visit to Italian territory to hold high-level meetings, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto met yesterday aboard the FREMM frigate ITS Spartaco Schergat (F598), which was docked in La Spezia. In this context, accompanied by the respective Chiefs of Staff of the Italian and Hellenic Navies, the officials signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Naval Affairs between the two countries and a Statement of Intent for Greece to move forward with the purchase of two FREMM frigates that the Italian Navy will decommission.
The news was welcomed by Fincantieri, the company that would deliver the two ships in question to the Hellenic Navy, posting on its social media: “We are proud to announce that, during the opening of the Seafuture fair in La Spezia, the National Armament Directors of Italy and Greece signed a preliminary agreement for the transfer to the Hellenic Navy, through Fincantieri, of two naval units currently in service with the Italian Navy (…) The final agreement will also include a support package, which we will be able to manage thanks to our proven experience in after-sales services.”
It is worth recalling that Greece has already sent inspection teams to evaluate the condition of the FREMM frigates it intends to acquire, with Minister Dendias’ visit marking the formal start of the negotiations. In this regard, the Greek defense minister noted that the ships are in excellent condition, although the possibility of a capabilities modernization plan together with Fincantieri is being evaluated.
One of the aspects mentioned as part of these plans would be the integration of the next-generation ELSA missiles, which will also be part of the FDI frigates acquired by Athens from Naval Group to strengthen its naval deterrence capabilities in the Aegean. It is useful to recall that Greece has confirmed that its fleet, originally composed of three ships, will now be expanded with the purchase of an additional vessel, reflecting the pace at which Greece seeks to close capability gaps left by years of economic crises that hindered progress in such programs.
Looking toward the next decade, the Hellenic Navy also plans for the two FREMM frigates to be acquired in the near future to be complemented by another two units once the Italian Navy releases them, forming a total fleet of four ships of this type. As Minister Dendias stated: “Since there is a defined framework, I hope this will be a success. Specifically, two plus two Italian ships: the first two initially, and the other two when the Italians release them. If we achieve this, it will be a great success for us. In a very short time, we will have the most powerful and modern Navy in our history. I must say, for me, this remains a great hope and a deep expectation.”
In relation to this, these plans can advance as long as Fincantieri can proceed without major issues in the construction of the new FREMM EVO frigates ordered by Rome, with delivery dates currently set for 2029 and 2030. To complete the acquisition, Italy invested around 1.5 billion euros for two ships, with the manufacturing process beginning in April with the first steel cut at the Riva Trigoso shipyards in Genoa.
Finally, it should be noted that while advancing the incorporation of new FDI frigates and the purchase of FREMM frigates, the Hellenic Navy is also focusing on the modernization of four ships belonging to the so-called Hydra class, consisting of German-origin MEKO 200HN vessels. To carry out this process, Thyssenkrupp and Thales submitted proposals at the beginning of last year, aiming for a comprehensive modernization to extend the service life of the ships, which have been in service for Greece since the 1990s.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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