Greece might acquire two Bergamini-class frigates from Italy following FREMM EVO commissioning.

As reported by Doureios on March 23, 2025, Italy has formally notified Greece of the availability of two FREMM-class frigates, the Carlo Bergamini (F 590) and Virginio Fasan (F 591), for potential transfer after 2028. The information, first conveyed to the Greek side earlier this year, is currently under review by the Ministry of National Defence. These discussions are linked to the Italian Navy’s fleet modernization, which includes the replacement of older Bergamini-class frigates with new FREMM EVO units scheduled for delivery in 2029 and 2030.
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The Virginio Fasan (F 591), commissioned on 19 December 2013, is an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) variant of the Bergamini-class. (Picture source: Marina Militare)

This offer marks a continuation of Greece’s broader effort to address gaps in surface combatant capabilities by supplementing its fleet with both new and used ships. The two proposed vessels were the first units built for the Italian Navy under the Carlo Bergamini-class FREMM program and entered service in 2013. The Carlo Bergamini is a General Purpose (GP) variant, while the Virginio Fasan is configured for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). Italian sources have clarified that only these two frigates are being offered at this stage, and there is no mention of future availability of additional units. The Italian Navy currently operates four FREMM GP and four FREMM ASW frigates, with two additional GP-e variants expected to enter service within the year.

The Carlo Bergamini (F 590), commissioned on 29 May 2013, is the lead ship of the class and configured as a General Purpose (GP) frigate. As a GP variant, it was built without the CAPTAS-4 towed sonar system used for anti-submarine warfare, in line with Italian naval doctrine from the 1990s and 2000s that emphasized cost savings. Instead, it carries a hull-mounted sonar (UMS 4110 CL) and focuses on surface warfare and air defense. Its radar is the Leonardo Kronos Grand Naval (MFRA) AESA system, capable of detecting aerial threats beyond 300 kilometers. It is armed with two SYLVER A50 vertical launch systems for Aster 15 or 30 missiles, eight Otomat Mk-2/A anti-ship missiles, torpedo tubes for MU 90 torpedoes, and a suite of naval guns including a 127 mm Otobreda and 76 mm Strales.

The Virginio Fasan (F 591), commissioned on 19 December 2013, is an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) variant of the same class. Unlike the Bergamini, it is equipped with the CAPTAS-4 variable depth sonar in addition to the UMS 4110 CL, enhancing its capability for detecting and prosecuting submarines. The ASW version typically carries four Otomat Mk-2/A missiles and four MILAS anti-submarine missiles, reflecting its operational focus. The radar and other combat systems are similar to the GP variant, but the weapon load and sensor suite are tailored to support ASW tasks. Both vessels feature helicopter hangars that can accommodate two 10-ton helicopters.

Despite their differing configurations, both ships share many commonalities in platform design and combat capabilities. They are 144.6 meters long, displace 6,700 tons, and can reach speeds up to 27 knots. Their range at 15 knots is 6,800 nautical miles. Crew size for each is approximately 200 personnel, and both include a combination of advanced sensors and weaponry suited for multi-domain naval operations. Their twin SYLVER A50 VLS cells support medium and long-range Aster missiles, and both are equipped with advanced AESA radar, torpedoes, and heavy naval artillery. Their shared platform eases maintenance and logistical requirements while allowing for flexibility in deployment.

The Hellenic Navy’s current modernization strategy, based on three to four new Belharra-class frigates and the mid-life upgrade of four MEKO 200HN frigates and four Papanikolis-class submarines, is not considered sufficient for addressing strategic challenges in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. The outgoing Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, emphasized this limitation in his January 2024 address and proposed the acquisition of additional multi-role frigates to replace aging S-class units.

The Carlo Bergamini (F 590), commissioned on 29 May 2013, is the lead ship of the class and configured as a General Purpose (GP) frigate. (Picture source: Marina Militare)

A proposal was formulated and presented to the political leadership, calling for the acquisition of new multi-role air-defense frigates to be built in Greece and the procurement of smaller used surface combatants, subject to inspection and cost evaluation. The government was briefed, but no decision has yet been announced. Meanwhile, a key naval acquisition program (the future corvette) has remained inactive since late 2022, with budget reprioritization cited as the main reason. Efforts to secure Foreign Military Financing (FMF) loans from the United States seem to remain a critical component of the plan’s financial feasibility.

In this context, two parallel pathways have emerged. One plan involves sending a formal request to join the U.S. Navy’s FFG-62 program, aiming for the construction of American-designed Constellation-class frigates in Greece. However, the complexity of U.S. legislative and contractual frameworks prompted the Hellenic Navy to develop an alternative: procuring FREMM frigates directly from Fincantieri in a customized configuration that mirrors U.S. systems to ensure interoperability and supportability. This concept, described as a “Hellenized” or “Americanized” FREMM, would include U.S. weapons and mission systems while being built locally, leveraging existing partnerships between Fincantieri and ONEX at the Elefsis Shipyards, supported by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

The backdrop to these proposals is the long-standing gap in Greece’s naval renewal efforts. The original strategy to modernize the surface fleet aimed at acquiring four new frigates and upgrading the MEKO 200HN class, supplemented by four new corvettes or suitable second-hand warships. With the corvette program effectively stalled since late 2022, Greece has been exploring options to acquire 4–6 U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), on condition that propulsion issues have been resolved and the transfer occurs without cost—though retrofitting them with appropriate weapons and systems would still entail significant expenses.

The FREMM offer from Italy is the first specific and viable foreign proposal in this broader effort to replace aging surface combatants. These ships offer modern capabilities, but whether Greece will pursue this path depends not only on military utility but also on strategic intent. Analysts have questioned whether Athens is prepared to employ these ships in ways that assert its interests in regions like the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly regarding tensions surrounding Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The past absence of military response to Turkish naval actions in the region has raised concerns about Greece’s willingness to project power beyond the Aegean, even with enhanced naval assets.

Criticism has also been voiced about past Greek naval planning, including the shelving of local warship design initiatives such as the ALS program, and the prioritization of high-cost foreign projects over domestic solutions. Meanwhile, Türkiye has steadily built its naval power through sustained shipbuilding and investment in its domestic defense industry, highlighting the importance of long-term strategic planning—something many argue has been lacking on the Greek side.