A strong Hellenic Navy

With the strengthening of the Hellenic Air Force continuing astatine a steady pace, spearheaded by the procurement of Rafale combatant jets, the upgrade of F-16s to Vipers, and the acquisition of F-35s successful the comparatively adjacent future, the modernization of the Navy is present coming to the fore.

Following the statement with France for the operation of 4 modern FDI-class frigates, a broad program is underway to strengthen Greece’s naval capabilities, with the imminent acquisition of 4 second-hand Italian FREMM frigates, and the upgrade of 4 older Hydra-class frigates that Greece already has, a process that will beryllium implemented astatine the Skaramangas shipyards.

After receiving the archetypal of the 4 technologically precocious FDI frigates being built successful France, and while the gradual transportation of the remaining three is expected, Athens has chosen to procure 4 Italian Carlo Bergamini-class ships successful an statement that provides for their receipt successful two phases (2+2), with the outgo of the archetypal two estimated astatine astir €700 million, including some of their main weapons systems.

The targeted upgrade besides covers combat systems and structural attraction support, spare parts and unit training.

As portion of the Navy’s caller operational unit structure, Athens besides plans to procure CAPTAS-4 towed sonar systems, so that the FREMM frigates tin successful signifier beryllium connected par with the FDI’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, arsenic well arsenic anti-ship rocket and aerial defence options.

Obviously, the reinforcement of the fleet is being done to support the country’s territorial integrity, without immoderate thought oregon readying to take assertive actions, arsenic some occasionally claim. At the aforesaid time, the state is boosting its quality to lend to planetary peacekeeping operations, with each the implications this has for its determination relation and influence.

Despite strategic partnerships with states that person strong equipped forces, it has been repeatedly pointed retired that nary third state will combat immoderate war we mightiness get progressive in. It is successful this light, erstwhile the remaining three caller frigates are delivered, the acquisition of the 4 second-hand vessels is completed and the upgrade of the 4 older ones proceeds, that the caller world will beryllium assessed.

A state with the geographical determination and naval tradition of Greece cannot neglect to person a strong and convincingly deterrent beingness astatine sea.

For years, the country’s naval capabilities were noticeably limited, successful signifier if not needfully astatine the level of rhetoric. This antagonistic world is gradually being corrected arsenic the Hellenic Navy will person a total of 12 high-tech frigates that will patrol the Aegean Sea, arsenic well arsenic the wider Eastern Mediterranean when deemed necessary, qualitatively and quantitatively strengthening Greece’s determination defence footprint.