Greece and French shipbuilder Naval Group have signed a contract for the construction of an additional defense and intervention frigate (FDI) for the Hellenic Navy.
The agreement covers the acquisition of a fourth FDI, its maintenance, and capability enhancements across the existing FDI fleet.
Under the deal, approximately 25 percent of the work and components will be sourced from Greek companies.
Greece has formally negotiated with France’s General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments to acquire the fourth vessel, valued at 982 million euros ($1.1 billion), according to the Greek newspaper Ekathimerini.
This new frigate is part of the FDI Hellenic Navy program launched in 2022, which initially included three frigates with an option for a fourth, and for which Naval Group was awarded the primary contract.
The first three ships are currently under construction, with the lead vessel scheduled for delivery by the end of this year.
New Frigates for Greece
The FDIs are multi-role frigates capable of anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and asymmetric operations.
Their scalable design enables independent or fleet operations against threats such as supersonic missiles and cyberattacks, supported by advanced digital and data-processing systems.
The frigates’ compact layouts and hulls enable operation in varied conditions, from rough seas to cold, warm, and archipelagic waters.
Featuring automated systems, the ships require fewer crew members and have simplified maintenance, improving operational availability.
The ships are built to NATO standards for interoperability with allied naval forces.
Sea trials, including tests in the Atlantic with high waves and challenging conditions, have confirmed the FDI’s stability and performance, according to Naval Group.
