Greek Fdi Frigate

[Urbano Bozman]

LimnosF451) is an Elli-class frigate of the Hellenic Navy, and the third Greek warship to bear the name. The class is based on the Royal Netherlands Navy's Kortenaer class and was built in a Dutch shipyard; however, unlike later members of her class in the Hellenic Navy, she was not originally in Dutch service, but was sold directly to Greece. Limnos was constructed in Vlissingen, Netherlands, along with her sister ship Elli. The contract for her construction was signed in Athens in July 1981 and her commissioning took place on 18 September 1982. After commissioning, Limnos joined the Hellenic Fleet on 5 November 1982 and since then she has actively participated in its activities.[1]

Limnos took part in several operations including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and 1991. She was part of the security arrangements for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens as part of Operation Ifitos, and with Operation Ocean Shield, the NATO contribution to the anti-piracy initiative, in 2009.[1] In 2011 she deployed with Operation Unified Protector, the NATO operation to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the Libyan Civil War, and with Operation Active Endeavour, an anti-terrorism mission in the Mediterranean.[1]

On 13 August 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that any attack on the Turkish research vessel Oru Reis will incur a "high price" and suggested that Turkey had already acted on that warning. This came after unconfirmed reports that Limnos collided with the frigate Kemalreis, one of the ships of the Turkish Navy that were escorting Oru Reis, which resumed drilling operations southeast of the Greek island of Kastellorizo on 10 August, after suspending its work in July.[2][3][4][5]

On the following day, the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence released a date stamped photograph of Limnos conducting joint drills with four other Greek frigates and two units of the French Navy in that same area.[6] According to unnamed "Greek defense sources", the Greek frigate manoeuvred to avoid a head-on collision, after Kemalreis attempted to "block" Limnos path and in the process its bow touched the rear of the Turkish frigate.[7] Initially, the Turkish frigate's fate remained unconfirmed, despite reports that mentioned it was deemed non-operational due to propeller damage, requiring return to port for repairs. Later on the same day and in response however, the Turkish Ministry of Defense released a video of the ship in social media, declaring that Kemalreis was also fully operational and its condition was unchanged, normally continuing its original mission. As a response to the Turkish President's statements, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, announcing that the Greek Foreign Minister would brief in detail his European counterparts on the operational and technical details of that incident.

On 19 August, Greek newspaper Kathimerini published a photograph depicting the damage sustained to the right side of the stern of the Turkish frigate during the collision.[8] Several Turkish newspapers published a video showing Kemalreis was not damaged at the bow.[9][10][11]

The Greek frigate Hydra is part of an EU naval group under the CDSP maritime security operation ASPIDES that aims to safeguard maritime security and ensure freedom of navigation, especially for merchant and commercial vessels, in the area where numerous Houthi attacks have targeted international commercial vessels since October 2023. Within its defensive mandate, the operation will provide maritime situational awareness, accompany vessels, and protect them against possible multi-domain attacks at sea.

EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, a European counterpart to the American-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, was launched by the European Council on February 19, 2024 with an initial duration of one year. Operation ASPIDES will coordinate closely with the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea, as well as, with like-minded partners contributing to maritime security in its area of operation.

The above upgrades and additions attest to the great effort and attention given by the Greek government to the safety of the crew and the success of the operation. However, Hydra stands as the sole vessel in its class to have undergone these upgrades, a distinction driven by her crucial role in ASPIDES.

Note that the Hellenic Navy has been planning an extensive Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) for the class since the late 2000s. However, this initiative has faced repeated postponements primarily due to the impact of the sovereign debt crisis, which severely affected Greece. Despite announcements by Greek officials over the years regarding the MLU (or at least a partial upgrade) of the ships, progress has been consistently hampered by delays. Regrettably, to date, there has been no tangible advancement in the program.

It is noteworthy that Greece has not incorporated a major surface combatant constructed or designed by a French manufacturer into its fleet for several decades despite the fact that the majority of its fast attack missile craft (FACM), have French origin.

For several years, the Greek government and subsequently the leadership of the HN engaged in extensive discussions with the French authorities regarding the acquisition of frigates, initially considering FREMM and later the new that time FDI-class vessels. As the decision-making process was extended, additional contenders, the best of Western naval manufacturers, gradually entered into a competitive dialogue with the Greek side. Notably, Naval Group faced stiff competition, including a heavier variant of the LCS design, initially referred to as MMSC and later an even more advanced configuration known as the Hellenic Future Frigate (HF2) by American Lockheed Martin. Other major contenders included the SIGMA 11515 by the Dutch Damen, the MEKO A200 by German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the Arrowhead 140HN by British Babcock, the FREMM IT (Bergamini class in ASW configuration) by Italian Fincantieri, and the F110 by Spanish Navantia.

Ultimately, the contract was awarded to the French Naval Group for the FDI frigates in a configuration superior to the French ones. Therefore, on March 24, 2022, Greece signed a contract for the procurement of three Defense and Intervention Frigates (FDI) HN frigates, with an option for one more.

The French officials have stated firmly that the construction of FDI HN is not just an export of warships to a third country, but stress that they are supplying Greece with warships that are in some respects, at a higher capability level than theirs. Furthermore, Greece will acquire three FDI HN in a very short timeframe. To achieve these timeframes, the second and third FDI frigates, originally planned for delivery to the French Navy in 2025, will be completed as Greek ships and by 2027 will receive the additional equipment requested by the Greek side. The Hellenic Navy ships are being built as series production right after the first ship of class for the French Navy, with the benefits of an expedited delivery.

Since the specific equipment details of the French ships have not been disclosed and the fact that the French have not yet deiced yet to equip the ships properly, even with DLS, we can reasonably anticipate that the Greek frigate, even in its Standard 1 configuration, will slightly outperform in equipment its French counterpart thanks to the incorporation of additional equipment, such as a laser warning system (LWS) and a 76mm gun with multi-feeder that will provide advanced anti-missile and counter-UAV capability. We still do not know the provider of the LWS but we may assume that it will be SAAB. It was confirmed to us for a second time (first time was here) that eight sensors will constitute the LWS suite covering the whole ship and providing complete awareness of potential threats to the crew.

From the renderings and the close observation of the ship, it is clear that there is space for a third system at the starboard side near the bridge but we do not know if a possible installation of such system there will affect the performance of the ship. Nevertheless, the two RWS will provide full coverage. Definitely, a larger caliber such as 30mm gun could not be fitted in such small space and near the bridge. Greece will be the first user of this advanced weapon system by installing two such systems on each FDI HN. The same system will equip four Island-class coastal patrol vessels which were acquired from the US Coast Guard while it is proposed by Leonardo for the Greek corvette program (3+1 vessels), for both candidates, Gowind 2800 of Naval Group and FCX30 (Al Zubarah-class variant) of Fincantieri. Therefore at least 16+4 LIONFISH turrets will equip 10 Greek naval vessels in the near future.

Concerning the option for a 4th FDI HN, the French officials have clarified that nothing has been finalized and the decision and responsibility solely belong to the Greek side. The French are willing to discuss an extension of the exercise of the option for ordering the fourth FDI HN, provided that the Greek side raises the matter.

The multi-national forces in the Red Sea region continue to have daily engagements with the Houthi rebels with Greece and Italy reporting the latest efforts as part of the EU Operation Aspides to defend the region. The U.S. Central Command also reports daily strikes and relayed that the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S. warship earlier this week.

According to the reports, the Hydra encountered two Houthi drones early today local time while in the Gulf of Aden. She used her 127 mm main gun. The Hellenic Navy reports the drones withdrew, alternating course away from the warship and the ships in the region. It marked the first time the Hydra fired during this mission.

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