LORIENT, France, June 29, 2026 — The Hellenic Navy has reached another milestone in its fleet modernization program as HS Formion (F-603), the third Kimon-class Defence and Intervention Frigate (FDI HN), officially commenced sea trials from Naval Group's shipyard in Lorient, France.
The frigate departed the shipyard on June 22, marking its transition from construction to operational testing ahead of its scheduled delivery later this year. The sea trials will verify the vessel's propulsion, navigation, maneuverability, safety systems, communications, power generation, and combat system integration before it enters service.
Initial Sea Trials Underway
The first phase of testing, lasting approximately two weeks, focuses on validating the ship's core systems and overall performance at sea. As Naval Group builds the hull and the Panoramic Sensor and Intelligence Module (PSIM) in parallel, testing of the frigate's primary combat system sensors has also begun during this stage.
HS Formion is the third vessel in Greece's Kimon-class program, which is intended to replace older surface combatants with modern multi-mission frigates capable of anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, and asymmetric warfare operations.
Platform and Aviation Capability
Based on the French Defence and Intervention Frigate (FDI) design, the Hellenic Navy variant has been adapted for operations in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.
The frigate displaces approximately 4,500 tonnes, measures 122 meters in length with an 18-meter beam, and has a top speed of 27 knots. It offers an operational range of approximately 5,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, an endurance of 45 days, and accommodates 125 crew members plus 28 additional personnel.
Its flight deck and hangar are designed to support a 10-tonne-class helicopter, including the MH-60R Seahawk, alongside a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle, extending the ship's surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities.
Enhanced Weapons Suite
Compared with the standard French FDI configuration, the Hellenic Navy version features a larger weapons package designed for regional operational requirements.
The frigate is armed with:
- 32 MBDA Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles for medium- and long-range area air defense.
- One 21-cell RAM Block 2B launcher for point defense against incoming missiles and other close-range threats.
- Eight MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missiles for long-range maritime strike missions.
- One 76 mm naval gun for engagements against surface and aerial targets.
- Four torpedo tubes for MU90 lightweight torpedoes used in anti-submarine warfare.
- Two CANTO launchers providing anti-torpedo countermeasures.
This layered weapons configuration enables the ship to engage threats across air, surface, and underwater domains.
Advanced Combat Systems
HS Formion is equipped with Naval Group's SETIS Combat Management System and the Thales Sea Fire 4D AESA radar, which uses four fixed antenna panels to provide continuous 360-degree surveillance without mechanical rotation. The radar is designed to rapidly detect, track, and engage multiple threats in complex maritime environments.
The frigate also features a native cybersecurity architecture with two independent onboard data centers operating in a virtualized environment, improving redundancy and protecting critical systems against cyber threats.
Greek Industrial Participation
The program includes significant participation from Greek industry under the Hellenic Industrial Participation (HIP) initiative.
Naval Group has signed more than 120 contracts with approximately 70 Greek companies. Salamis Shipyards manufactures pre-outfitted hull blocks, while other domestic firms supply consoles, electrical systems, torpedo doors, and additional ship components, supporting future maintenance and sustainment.
Delivery Timeline
HS Formion is scheduled for delivery to the Hellenic Navy by the end of 2026 in the Standard 1 configuration. The ship will then remain in France for upgrades to the Standard 2+ standard before sailing to Greece in April 2027.
The lead ship, HS Kimon, arrived in Greece earlier in 2026, while the second frigate, HS Nearchos, is expected to be delivered in October 2026 following sea trials that began in February. Construction of the fourth vessel, HS Themistokles, is also progressing, further strengthening the Hellenic Navy's future surface fleet.
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