The launching of the first Greek FDI frigate, named ”Kimon”, took place yesterday at the Naval Group shipbuilding facilities in Lorient, in the presence of France’s Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.
During the official launching ceremony of the frigate “Kimon“, a ceremony that was broadcasted live from the French naval defence company, Nikos Dendias and Sébastien Lecornu cut the ribbon and toured the state-of-the-art frigate.
This was the official launching ceremony of the first of the FDI frigates destined for Greece. According to Greek media, after the frigate “Kimon” that is expected to be delivered to the Greek Navy in 2025, two more ships are also expected for the Greek Navy, the “Nearchos” and the “Formion“, while a fourth remains optional.
At the press conference after the official launching ceremony of the frigate “Kimon“, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said that he feels particularly moved as “it is a huge honor, a top event for Greece, an important milestone of strategic partnership for cooperation in defence and security between the Greek and French Republics.”
In his speech, the Minister of Defence emphasised that “Kimon continues the tradition of Greece for 2,500 years as a naval power, from antiquity to the present day and strengthens the armor of our country.”
As the Greek Ministry of Defence notes in a statement, Dendias was welcomed to Naval Group’s facilities in Lorient by the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, among others, and inspected the construction works of the frigate “Nearchos“.
Following the completion of the launching ceremony, the Greek Minister of Defence went to the base of the Special Operations Force of the French Navy, where he had a bilateral meeting with the French Minister of Defence, during which the further strengthening of strategic defence cooperation was discussed.
On March 24, 2022, Greece and Naval Group signed the contracts for three defence and intervention frigates, plus one optional, and their in-service support. The contracts also include the supply of MU90 torpedoes and CANTO countermeasures.
According to Naval Group, the FDI HN features high level capabilities in all warfare domains: anti-ship, anti-air, antisubmarine and special forces projection. Its air and surface defences are ensured by the most modern sensors, including the Thales Sea Fire, the first all-digital multifunction radar with an active antenna and fixed panels.
The FDI HN is equipped with a unique integrated mast that brings together all the airborne sensors, enabling permanent 360° surveillance. As the first frigate on the market to be natively protected against the cyber threat, the FDI HN is equipped with two data centers hosting almost all of the ship’s applications.
Watch the video from the official launch ceremony of “Kimon” frigate at 2:15 hrs approximately.
