France’s Second FDI Frigate Launched by Naval Group

French shipbuilder Naval Group on May 16 conducted the “technical launch” of the second Amiral Ronarc’h-class FDI frigate for the French Navy, Amiral Louzeau (D661). A Naval News cameraman was on site to document this major milestone for the program. The official launch ceremony, attended by French government and naval officials, is scheduled to take place tomorrow, May 19, 2026. My story for Naval News, here.

The Kimon-Class Frigates: Greece’s Naval Renaissance and an Overview of the FDI HN Program

By D-Mitch

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Kimon, first FDI HN frigate for Greece arriving at
Salamis Naval Base on January 15, 2026. 
Photo by Nick Thodos (@ThNick_ on X)

On the eve of Greek Independence Day, March 24, 2022, Greece launched the most consequential naval procurement program in decades. In a celebratory ceremony held on the deck of the legendary armored cruiser Georgios Averof, permanently moored as a museum ship at Paleo Faliro, the Hellenic Republic signed a landmark agreement with French defense manufacturers Naval Group, MBDA, and Thales. The contract provides for the acquisition of three Defence and Intervention Frigates (FDI) in Hellenic Navy configuration (FDI HN), with an option for a fourth vessel (3+1). All ships are being constructed in Lorient, France, with sections also built at Salamis Shipyards in Greece. The agreement includes their weapons package (missiles and torpedoes), CANTO anti-torpedo countermeasures as well as Integrated Logistics Support (ILS). The first frigate, Kimon, was officially commissioned into the Fleet on December 18, 2025 and arrived to Salamis Naval Base, Greece on January 15, 2026.

Greece Deploys FDI Frigate to Shield Cyprus Amid Iran Tensions

Greece moved swiftly to assist Cyprus, which has come under attack from hostile Iranian drones. Following a decision by the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA), the Hellenic Armed Forces are deploying the FDI HN frigate Kimon (F-601) which is currently the most advanced Greek warship and the only one capable to provide long-range air defense thanks to her SEAFIRE MFR and ASTER 30 SAM, an additional (Hydra-class/MEKO 200HN) frigate, Psara (F-454), that is also equipped with HAI's CENTAUR C-UAS system, and two pairs of F-16 Viper fighter jets to Cyprus, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced on March 2, 2026. My story for Naval News, here.

Greece procures CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS for FDI HN Frigates

On Febryary 13, 2026, the Hellenic Navy signed a contract to acquire four Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS for its Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates. The first system, each system with two S-100 air vehicles, will be deployed on frigate HS Kimon in spring 2026, alongside a land-based system for training, with initial crews completing training by the same period. Representing Naval News at DEFEA 2025, I first reported details on the Hellenic Navy’s S-100 programme in 2025, when Lubos Šrámek, Sales Director for Europe at Schiebel, shared exclusive insights into the S-100 CAMCOPTER UAS during an interview with me. My story for Naval News, here.

Hellenic Navy Receives Its First FDI Frigate Built by Naval Group

On December 18, 2025, in Lorient, France, Naval Group delivered HS Kimon (F601), the first Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI HN) for the Hellenic Navy. The ceremony was attended by Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin. Also present were the Deputy Minister of National Defence; Members of Parliament; senior leadership of the Hellenic Armed Forces; former Ministers of Defence, retired generals and admirals; and donors to the Armed Forces, including the ship’s sponsor, Rear Admiral (h.c.) Panos Laskaridis. Diplomatic and industry representatives included the Greek Ambassador to France, the Ambassador of the French Republic to Greece, Naval Group Chairman & CEO Pierre Éric Pommellet, representatives of foreign diplomatic and military delegations, officials from Greek defense industries, and other distinguished guests. My story for Naval News, here.

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.

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.

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.

INFOGRAPHICS #65: Future Surface Combatants Vol. VΙII (Wicher class, MPCS EVO, BR71 MKII)

Written by D-Mitch

In this post, I’ve shared some of the infographics I created and published on social media, featuring new surface combatants that are either under construction and nearing service entry, as well as proposed designs that have not yet secured a customer.

 

1. Wicher-class (Arrowhead 140PL/Miecznik Project) frigate of the Polish Navy (3 ships)

 

Wicher class frigate of the Polish Navy. Image from the YouTube video by Kamil Sa here.

First Greek FDI HN Frigate Starts Sea Trials

The first FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy, HS Kimon, started her first sea trials on May 21st in Lorient. Developed to be operated by the Hellenic Navy, the FDI HS Kimon has begun her sea trials from the Naval Group site of Lorient, Brittany. The trials will be carefully attended by the Hellenic Navy representatives. Thanks to the experience gained during the Amiral Ronarc’h sea trials, the trials of HS Kimon will be performed much faster. The first period at sea will be mainly dedicated to test the platform systems including propulsion and navigation systems. The second period at sea, in a few weeks, will be dedicated to combat systems and endurance at sea. 2025 marks a key milestone for the FDI programme, with sea trials and the upcoming delivery of the first frigate for the Hellenic Navy, along with the imminent launching of the third vessel, HS Formion. By 2026, the Hellenic Navy will operate three first-rank, multi-mission FDI HN frigates. My story for Naval News, here.

Naval Group & HAI Sign MoU for FDI Frigate C-UAS capabilities

At DEFEA 2025, Naval News learned that Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Naval Group to integrate the combat-proven CENTAUR counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) aboard the Hellenic Navy’s Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates, with plans to extend the integration to other surface vessels, including the French Navy’s FDI frigates. This agreement aims to enhance the frigates’ capabilities with a fully integrated solution for countering the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems—from detection to interception. Naval News visited HAI’s booth and obtained details on the final industrialized version of the CENTAUR system, whose prototype has been successfully deployed in the Red Sea and is currently in service aboard Hydra-class (MEKO 200HN) frigates, demonstrating strong performance against UAV threats. HAI also unveiled a new lightweight and compact C-UAS system, named IPERION, which was presented to the public for the first time. My story for Naval News, here.

New Frigates, Submarines, Patrol Vessels and Several Upgrade Programs for Greece

On April 10, Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias addressed the Hellenic Parliament’s Special Standing Committee on Armament Programmes and Contracts regarding the Long-term Planning of Defence Armaments of the Armed Forces 2025–2036. The following day, April 11, he expanded on the program in an interview with journalist Apostolos Mangiriadis at the Delphi Economic Forum X. In both appearances, he presented the long-awaited defense procurement plan for the Hellenic Armed Forces. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen national defense and upgrade military capabilities over the next 12 years in response to rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics. Central to the plan is a comprehensive naval armament program. The Long-term Planning of Defence Armaments 2025–2036 is aligned with the new Force Structure and forms a key component of the broader “Agenda 2030” reform framework. It encompasses a wide range of projects, with particular emphasis on the modernization and expansion of the Hellenic Navy. My story for Naval News, here.

Indonesia’s Merah Putih-class Frigate: What You Need to Know

A newly released infographic of the under-construction 140-meter frigate for the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL)—known as the Red White Frigate (Fregat Merah Putih)—reveals key details of its combat system configuration. The Merah Putih-class frigate, a variant of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design, which itself is derived from the Royal Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate, is being built by PT PAL Indonesia in Surabaya. Construction of the first ship-in-class began with the steel-cutting ceremony on December 9, 2022. The ship’s keel was laid down on 25 August 2025. Variants of the Arrowhead 140 are also being developed for other navies, including the United Kingdom’s Inspiration-class (Type 31) and Poland’s Miecznik program. The frigate’s equipment is categorized as “Fitted For, But Not With” (FFBNW) and “Main Contract Equipment”, with most weapons and sensors supplied by Turkish firms (Aselsan, Meteksan, Roketsan, and Havelsan) as well as Italian defense companies (Leonardo and ELT Group). My story (with additional reporting by Tayfun Ozberk) for Naval News, here.

North Korea Unveils Advanced Frigate Design Likely Equipped with Guided Missiles

Photos released by North Korean state media, KCTV, reveal a new frigate that may be equipped with a Vertical Launching System (VLS) for cruise missiles and/or guided surface-to-air missiles (SAM). The vessel appears to have double the displacement of previous classes, showcasing significant enhancements in size and capability. In the summer of 2023, North Korea unveiled a cruise missile-armed corvette, marking a significant development in its naval capabilities. Now, just days before the start of 2025, the country has revealed a new frigate design with more than double the displacement of the +1,500-ton Amnok-class corvette and boasting advanced features. Footage aired by state media Korean Central Television (KCTV) on Sunday (watch the video starting at 03:11.40) included four photographs showing the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un inspecting an unidentified large warship under construction at the Nampo Shipyard for the Korean People’s Army Navy. My story for Naval News, here.

Greece’s Second FDI Frigate Receives PSIM Integrated Mast

The hull of the second Greek FDI HN frigate, Nearchos (F602), was floated out of the dry dock on September 19, 2024. The innovative integrated mast PSIM (Panoramic Sensor & Intelligence Module) was fitted on the frigate today, October 23, 2024. Approximately a month after the technical launch of the second Greek FDI HN frigate Nearchos (F602) from its dry dock at the Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, France, the final structural component—the PSIM integrated mast—was installed today on the ship. This mast, along with the inverted bow, is a key characteristic of the FDI design. The Naval Group’s mast is a separate module, manufactured independently of the hull and well in advance of sea trials. It can be powered up, tested, or even used for training purposes while still onshore. Weighing 150 tonnes and standing 42 meters tall, the integrated steel mast, known as the Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM), incorporates the ship’s Command Information Center (CIC) with the latest version of the SETIS Combat Management System (CMS), a planning room for mission command staff during flagship operations, and one of the two digital data processing centers (the other is located aft in the hull for survivability). The mast also houses the majority of the ship’s above-water sensors, providing continuous 360° surveillance. My story for Naval News, here.

On Board Kimon: Greece’s First FDI Frigate

On Friday, October 4, 2024, just three days before the first sea trials of the first FDI for the French Navy, Amiral Ronar’ch (D660), and the last day of the Euronaval 2024 Press Tour organized by GICAN, Naval News had the opportunity to board the first of three Greek FDI-type frigates under-construction, Kimon (F-601), which is in the final stages of completion at Naval Group’s shipard in Lorient, France. The acquisition of the new FDI HN frigates will mark a milestone as after about three decades, since the four Hydra-class (MEKO 200HN) frigates entered service, Greece will finally acquire modern main surface units. My story for Naval News, here. 

Greece Initiates Talks for 4th FDI HN Frigate and Cruise Missiles

During his visit to Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard on September 19, 2024, for the launching ceremony of the Hellenic Navy (HN)’s second FDI HN frigate ‘Nearchos‘ (F602), Greek Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias announced that Greece will enter negotiations to purchase a fourth FDI HN frigate and to equip a number of them with naval cruise missiles (NCM). The intention to purchase a fourth frigate by Greece reflects not only the satisfaction of the Navy’s leadership with the progress in the construction and capabilities of the new frigates but also the government’s confidence in the FDI program. My story for Naval News, here.

Greek Shipyard Delivers Blocks for France’s Second FDI

On July 13, 2024, the Salamis Shipyards delivered five (5) pre-equipped blocks of the second (and fifth in the production series) French Navy defence and intervention frigate (FDI) (Admiral Louzeau). These blocks were constructed at the Salamis Shipyards in Salamis, Greece, and are already en route from Greece to the Naval Group’s shipyard in Lorient, France, where they will undergo the next steps in the frigate’s construction. For the first time in history, a Greek shipyard is participating in the construction of a high-tech warship for the naval fleet of another country, specifically France, through the FDI program. My story for Naval News, here.

Centaur: The New Combat-proven C-UAS system by Hellenic Aerospace Industry

Videos and reports about a Greek warship that has effectively protected commercial ships in the Red Sea area, as part of the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, are flooding the press and social media this month. This warship is none other than the Hellenic Navy Hydra-class (MEKO 200HN) frigate Psara, which, despite its age and condition (having undergone only minimal upgrades or changes), seems to meet threats without even using a single one of its valuable and expensive RIM-162 ESSM Block 1 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) (Hydra-class frigates carry 16 x ESSM in their Mk48 Mod 5 VLS), relying only on its Mk45 Mod2A 127mm gun and a Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) system installed shortly before departure. The recently revealed system is called Centaur, a product of Greek design and development, specifically by Greece’s largest state defense industry, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), which developed it with its own resources. My story for Naval News, here.