Greece Signs MoU With Italy for Two FREMM Frigates

Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, visited La Spezia, Italy on September 29, 2025, during the opening day of the SEAFUTURE exhibition. There, he met with his Italian counterpart, Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, who was joined by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino. The discussions were held aboard ITS Spartaco Schergat (F598), an Italian Navy FREMM frigate, a symbolic venue that highlighted the maritime focus of the agenda. My story for Naval News, here.

Greece Commits to 4th FDI Frigate Procurement

The Greek government tonight moved forward with the decision to procure a fourth FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy, which will be named Themistocles, with all four FDI HN frigates slated for upgrades to the Standard 2++ configuration. The Hellenic Parliament now has to vote to approve this decision. This formality is expected to take place next week. The Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, participated today, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, in the meeting of the Government Council for National Security (KYSEA), under the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. My story for Naval News, here.

Upgraded Hellenic Navy P-3B Orion Completes First Flight

The Hellenic Navy’s first upgraded P-3B Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft has successfully completed its maiden test flight on September 1, 2025, marking a key milestone after prolonged delays. The flight validated the aircraft’s onboard systems, including its state-of-the-art glass cockpit and mission data interfaces, which will enhance the Hellenic Navy’s maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industry’s announcement is accompanied by my overview of the P-3’s service in Greece, along with a detailed account of the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) program. My story for Naval News, here.

Onboard the First Greek FDI for Sea Trials

Kimon, the first of the Greek FDI HN multi-mission frigates, has entered its second phase of sea trials off the coast of Brittany, France. Measuring 122 meters and displacing 4,500 tons, the FDI HN is poised to become one of the most capable and technologically advanced surface combatants in its class. Naval News was on board and can now bring you exclusive insights into the vessel’s capabilities and performance. My story for Naval News, here.

Angolan Navy BR71 MKII Corvette Program Progresses

Progress advances on future BR71 Mk II light corvettes for the Angolan Navy, with all three vessels under simultaneous construction in France and the United Arab Emirates. Equipped with advanced electronic systems and heavy armament for their size, these ships will rank among the most capable warships in their class on the African continent. Various published photos during the last months showcase the progress on the new BR71 MKII light corvettes being built for the Angolan Navy, simultaneously at the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) shipyard in Cherbourg, France, and the Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) facilities in the UAE. Some of the photos reveal a fully assembled vessel at CMN, offering intriguing insights into its configuration. My story for Naval News, here.

Hellenic Navy Conducts its Largest Missile Firing Exercise

On Monday, June 23, 2025, the Hellenic Navy conducted training launches of guided missiles in the wider area of the southern Ionian Sea. The exercise was observed by Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, and Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet Vice Admiral Christos Sasiakos. Greece showcased its naval strength with a spectacular live-fire exercise involving twelve missiles of seven different types—highlighting the full range of the Hellenic Navy’s arsenal and its combat readiness. This marked the largest live missile-firing drill in the Navy’s history. My story for Naval News, here.

India Commissions Its First ASW-SWC Corvette

On June 18, 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned the first of 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), essentially a light corvette, to enhance the protection of its vast coastline against subsurface threats such as submarines, midget submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The commissioning ceremony took place at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, in the presence of General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff. Among the others present were Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, CWP&A, Cmde P R Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, ADG Donny Michael, Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard), senior officials from Indian Navy and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding (L&T), distinguished civilian dignitaries, ex- Commanding Officers of erstwhile Arnala and guests. My story for Naval News, here.

Hellenic Navy Outlines Requirements for Next-Generation Submarine Program

On May 22, 2025, at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) in Farnborough, UK, a Navy Leaders Conference, Commodore Konstantinos Tourkantonis, Deputy Director of the Armaments Directorate of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, revealed new details for the imminent modernization of the Hellenic Navy’s submarine fleet. It is worth noting that the Greek Commodore previously served as Director of the submarine program, giving him direct and extensive involvement in Greece’s submarine initiatives. He also held the position of Commander of the Hellenic Navy Submarine Command. Naval News was present for the briefing, titled “Submarine Modernization Across the Hellenic Naval Force,” and here are the key takeaways from the presentation. My story for Naval News, here.

Barbaros-Class Frigates Enter "Beast Mode" with Major MLU

Written by D-Mitch

TCG Orucreis frigate after MLU during Exercise Dynamic

Mariner / Flotex 25. Photo by Anadolu Agency.

Today, the Turkish Turkish Naval Forces (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri) operate a fleet of four Barbaros-class multipurpose frigates. Two of these ships were built by the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, while the other two were constructed at Turkey’s Gölcük Naval Shipyard with German assistance. Construction of the lead ship, TCG Barbaros (F-244), began in April 1992, and all four vessels were commissioned between 1995 and 2000. The Barbaros-class frigates are approximately 7 meters longer than the earlier Yavuz-class frigates (four ships) and have a full load displacement of around 3,400 tons. Compared to their predecessors, they feature a more advanced propulsion system—CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas)—which allows for a higher top speed. They also incorporate upgraded electronic and sensor systems. Until the commissioning of TCG Istanbul (F-515, the lead ship of the first indigenous Istif-class frigates in January 2024, the Barbaros-class frigates were considered the most modern vessels in the Turkish Navy. Today, the ships of the class are undergoing a comprehensive Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) to enhance their combat capabilities and extend their service life into the 2040s. This article offers a detailed and thorough examination of the Barbaros-class frigates and their extensive (and impressive) MLU.