LORIENT, FRANCE — The Hellenic Navy received its second Defence and Intervention Frigate (FDI HN), HS Nearchos (F-602), from French shipbuilder Naval Group on October 30, 2026. The handover ceremony took place at Naval Group’s shipyard in Lorient, attended by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin. The Greek flag was raised, and Captain Vassilios Karagiannakis assumed command of the approximately 123–128-member crew.
The HS Nearchos follows the lead ship HS Kimon (F-601), delivered in December 2025. Launched in September 2024, Nearchos began sea trials in February 2026. Greece ordered three frigates in 2022 and exercised an option for a fourth, HS Themistokles (F-600), in November 2025. The third ship, HS Formion (F-603), began sea trials in June and is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. Themistokles is expected around 2028–2029. The deliveries of Kimon, Nearchos and Formion will provide Greece with three frigates within about one year.
Specifications and Weapons
The Kimon-class frigates, also known as FDI HN or Belharra-class, are approximately 122 metres long, displace 4,500 tonnes and can reach speeds exceeding 27 knots. Nearchos is the first Greek FDI delivered in the Standard 2 configuration, featuring enhanced combat systems compared with Kimon’s initial Standard 1 configuration. Further upgrades toward Standard 2++ are planned later in the decade.
The frigates carry MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missiles, Aster 15 and Aster 30 air-defense missiles, a 21-cell RAM Block 2B close-in weapon system, EuroTorp MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes and a Leonardo 76 mm Super Rapid gun. Their Sylver A50 vertical launch systems support Aster missiles.
The sensor suite includes the Thales Sea Fire AESA radar, providing 360-degree coverage, a hull-mounted sonar and a CAPTAS-4 towed array. The ships also feature electronic warfare and communications systems. Their flight decks can accommodate a medium helicopter, such as the MH-60R Seahawk, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Greek Industry and Support
According to Naval Group, more than 75 Greek companies participate in the frigate and related submarine programmes, supplying electronic circuit boards, pre-outfitted hull blocks and mechanical systems.
The Hellenic Navy has awarded Naval Group the initial in-service support contract for the FDI frigates. Maintenance and future modernization work will be shared among Naval Group, its Greek subsidiary Naval Group Hellas, and domestic maritime partners.
Naval Group Chairman and CEO Pierre Éric Pommellet said the delivery of Nearchos, ten months after Kimon, was an honour and thanked the Greek and French defense ministers for their continued trust. He added that the frigate would contribute to the Hellenic Navy’s operational capabilities at sea.
Following delivery, HS Nearchos is expected to sail to Brest to receive ammunition before heading to Greece, with arrival at Salamis Naval Base anticipated in early December 2026. The FDI HN programme is part of Greece’s effort to modernize its fleet with multi-mission frigates capable of anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface and other naval operations.
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