Greece and Italy Ink Deal for Two FREMM Frigates

Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias traveled to Rome on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, where he met with his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto. The two ministers discussed the latest developments in the international and regional security environment, with particular emphasis on European defence, the strategic situation in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans, and the need to further strengthen defence cooperation between Greece and Italy. During the meeting, Dendias and Crosetto oversaw the signing of an Implementing Arrangement between the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic, formally activating the programme for the acquisition of two Italian Bergamini-class (FREMM) frigates. The Implementing Arrangement follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Declaration of Intent concerning the acquisition of the Italian FREMM frigates, which were signed by Dendias and Crosetto in La Spezia, Italy, on September 29, 2025. My story for Naval News, here.

North Korea Commissions Second Choe Hyon-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer

On Sunday, September 6, 2026, the North Korean Navy commissioned its second Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, Kang Kon, in the eastern port city of Wonsan, in the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Kang Kon (52) was commissioned approximately two months after the lead ship of the class, Choe Hyon (51), which was officially commissioned on June 23, 2026. Two additional vessels of the class are currently under construction. Displacing approximately 5,000 tons and measuring 145 meters in length, the Choe Hyon-class destroyers are by far the largest, most heavily armed, and most advanced warships ever operated by the North Korean navy. Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter, attended the commissioning ceremony alongside senior government and military officials. Remarkably, Kang Kon had previously capsized during its launch at the Chongjin Shipyard on May 21, 2025, yet entered service a little more than a year later. My story for Naval News, here.

Navantia Unveils F-110 Flight II / IAMD Frigate

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia revealed in Denmark a scale model of the F-110 Flight II frigate for the first time. Designated the F-110 Flight II for the domestic market and Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) for export, the enhanced variant builds on the baseline F-110 (Bonifaz-class of Spanish Navy) design with significantly increased anti-air warfare capabilities. Navantia is set deliver two F-110 Flight II frigates to the Spanish Navy in addition to five F-110 Flight I vessels, three of which are already under construction. Navantia unveiled the F-110 Flight II/IAMD at DALO Industry Days because it aims to propose this design for an upcoming frigate requirement of the Royal Danish Navy. The F-110 IAMD is a significantly enlarged and enhanced evolution of Navantia’s F-110 frigate, designed to provide increased air-defense and area air-defense capabilities while retaining the platform’s multi-mission character, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities. My story for Naval News, here.