Greece receives first Island class patrol vessels from the U.S.

On July 3, 2023 the first Island-class cutters, that were transferred to the Hellenic Navy by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), have arrived in Perama of Piraeus, Greece. Two more vessels will arrive in the coming weeks. The vessels were previously stationed in Manama, Bahrain (Naval Support Activity Bahrain) as a part of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) to provide the US Navy 5th Fleet with combat ready assets. Greece becomes the 6th country to acquire Island-class patrol vessels for its maritime forces, after Pakistan (Pakistan Maritime Security Agency), Georgia (Georgian Coast Guard), Costa Rica (Costa Rican Coast Guard), Ukraine (Ukrainian Navy) and of course the United States. My story for Naval News, here.

Greek Shipbuilder Reveals New Special Operations Craft Designs

Some months after the successful introduction into service with the Hellenic Navy (ΗΝ) of Phi-Mechaniseas’s first Special Operations Craft (SOC) design AGENOR 18, also known as Agenor, the Greek company partnered with DIAPLOUS Group, a security, defence and crisis management group of companies, providing both maritime and land-based holistic risk management solutions on a global scale. The newly established DIAPLOUS PHI (founded in January 2023) is led by former senior naval officers, naval architects and marine engineers who bring together advanced naval engineering knowledge together with deep Special Forces operational expertise to the design and construction of SOCs, complemented by expertise in tactical mission and weapon systems. DIAPLOUS PHI aims to provide its customers with tailor-made and turnkey solutions taking into considerations their special requirements and needs. My story for Naval News, here.

New Multi-Purpose Ship Donated to the Hellenic Navy

The Greek shipowner and president of Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, Panos Laskaridis is about to donate a new large multi-purpose ship to the Hellenic Navy. The ship, is yet another kind donation of numerous donations over the last two decades by Laskaridis and his family to the Greek Navy and the Coast Guard, which include weaponry, patrol vessels, auxiliary and training ships, repairs and upgrades of older vessels and lighthouses. The close connection of Panos Laskaridis with the Hellenic Navy and his multi-faceted contribution to it, affirms in the best manner the unbreakable bond between the Hellenic Merchant Marine and the Hellenic Navy as joint guardians of Greek naval power and seamanship. "Viking Vision" is the 5th ship Laskaridis donates to the Hellenic Navy. It will be renamed when entering service with the Navy. My story for Naval News, here.

Advanced Missile Decoys by Lacroix for the Hellenic Navy

The introduction of chaff discrimination seeking capability into modern anti-ship missiles has made chaff decoys obsolete. A new generation of decoys has emerged based on radiofrequency corner-reflector technology to counter this threat. Lacroix Defense is supplying this technology to the Hellenic Navy. After the official announcement by Lacroix Defense during DEFEA 2023 that the company’s decoy launching systems (DLS) and their ammunition will protect the future Greek FDI HN frigates, Naval News met with Renaud Thetiot, Lacroix Sales and Marketing Director, to learn more about their technology and capabilities. My story for Naval News, here.

Fincantieri reveals details of its FCx30 Corvette Proposal to Greece

During DEFEA 2023 in Athens, Naval News met with Dario Deste, Fincantieri’s General Manager Naval Vessels Division, to learn more about Fincantieri’s FCx30 proposal for the Hellenic Navy corvette program. The Italian shipbuilder competes with France’s Naval Group. Mr. Deste confirmed that Fincantieri and ONEX Elefsis Shipyards are in negotiations with the Greek government for 3+1 FCx30 corvettes which will be built in Italy (for the first-in-class ship) and Greece (for the following three). This is the design that has been selected by the Qatari Emiri Navy as Al Zubarah-class (known also as Doha-class); three of the four vessels in the class are already in active service since 2021. My story for Naval News, here. 

LIONFISH remote weapon stations (RWS) for the Hellenic Navy

Naval News revealed yesterday that the Hellenic Navy decided to equip its new FDI HN frigates with the Leonardo LIONFISH 20 new RWS. Today, we met Leonardo to know more about this new weapon system. LIONFISH is the new family of small caliber remote-controlled weapon stations (RWS). Designed and developed by Leonardo, the new line consists of four models that feature the most advanced technologies available on the market today, including Ultralight, Inner Reloading, and Top in 12.7 mm caliber and Model 20 in 20 mm caliber. Featuring a common architecture, the Lionfish family of turrets is characterized by a compact and lightweight structure. Their lightweight, compact dimensions and safe deployment make them an excellent choice for installation on small ships or as secondary armament on larger vessels. My story for Naval News, here. 

Greece’s FDI HN frigates: Naval Group reveals new details

Naval News obtained from Naval Group a new illustration that depicts in details the sensors which will equip the new Hellenic Navy (HN) defense and intervention frigates (FDI HN) as well as changes in the equipment. During DEFEA 2023 in Athens, Naval News met with Stéphane Fremont, Naval Group’s Vice President – Surface Combatant Programs. We discussed the new image in order to clarify some questions regarding the FDI HN configuration. My story for Naval News, here.

Greece’s New FDI HN Frigates to Feature Advanced Decoy Launchers

At DEFEA 2023, LACROIX formally confirms the Hellenic Navy's choice to equip its new defence and intervention frigates (FDI HN) with the SYLENA MK1 decoy launching systems (DLS) and associated ammunition. The press release by Lacroix during DEFEA 2023 officially confirms that the three under-construction FDI HN frigates will be equipped with the SYLENA Mk1 DLS. We had assumed that it will be this specific model of DLS since late 2022 already and not the SYLENA Mk2 model which carries additionally three (3) CANTO anti-torpedo decoys each, because FDI frigates will be equipped with the new Counter Measure Launching Systems (CMLS) by Naval Group; two CMLS will equip FDI carrying six (6) CANTO each. Therefore the installation of four SYLENA MK1 DLS was logical. My story for Naval News, here.

IAI to equip Greek S-70B-6 helicopters with new sensor

IAI TAMAM Division will supply its MOSP3000-HD sensor payloads for the Hellenic Navy S-70B-6 helicopters as part of a modernization package. TAMAM Division of the Systems Missiles & Space (SMS) Group of of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) won a Hellenic Navy tender for an undefined number of its MOSP3000-HD highly stabilized long-range reconnaissance and targeting multi-sensor turret. Naval News learned the information from a source with knowledge of the matter but who wished to remain unnamed. My story for Naval News, here.