Greece prepares third Belharra-class frigate HS Formion for launch at French shipyard.

As reported by OnAlert on March 19, 2025, the Hellenic Navy is scheduled to launch its third Belharra-class frigate, the HS Formion, on June 4, 2025, at the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient, France. This launch will bring all three Greek-ordered frigates into the water by the end of summer 2025. The first frigate, HS Kimon, launched in October 2023, is currently undergoing outfitting and harbor trials, with sea trials expected to begin later this year. Meanwhile, the second vessel, HS Nearchos, launched in September 2024, is in an advanced stage of construction.
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Once all three vessels (the HS Formion, the HS Kimon, and the HS Nerchaos) are delivered, Greece expects to operate a trio of Belharra-class frigates by the end of 2026. (Picture source: Naval Group)

While HS Kimon was initially expected to be delivered in early 2025, delivery has been delayed by approximately six to nine months and is now expected in early 2026. However, this delay is being used to upgrade the vessel to the Standard-2 configuration during the ship’s final construction phase at the Lorient yard. Originally, this upgrade work was planned for Greek facilities, but the decision to complete it in France is seen as a time-saving measure that will allow the Hellenic Navy to receive the vessel in its full operational configuration. The ship will be delivered with 32 Sylver A50 vertical launch system (VLS) cells for Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles and a 21-cell launcher for the RAM Block 2B system installed, avoiding further post-delivery modifications.

HS Formion is being constructed with extensive industrial cooperation between Greece and France. Salamis Shipyards has contributed several pre-equipped blocks for the frigate, which are now undergoing final assembly in France. The ship is expected to be delivered in early 2026 and, like Nearchos, will be configured from the outset in the enhanced Standard-2 variant, providing each vessel with a robust layered air defense capability—a substantial leap from the initial Standard-1 configuration of 16 Aster 30 cells.

Further enhancing the capabilities of the Belharra-class frigates, Greece has procured five Schiebel Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which will be deployed aboard the new frigates. These rotary-wing UAVs extend the ships’ surveillance capabilities significantly beyond the line of sight. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias recently observed a demonstration of the S-100 during his visit to Schiebel’s production facility in Austria, highlighting the importance Greece places on expanding its naval ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capabilities.

Training is also ongoing to ensure that trained personnel of the Hellenic Navy will be available to operate the frigates as they are delivered. The first crews for HS Kimon have already been stationed in Lorient for several months, and additional personnel are scheduled to join in April 2025. At the same time, a training program is underway in Greece for the crews assigned to HS Nearchos and HS Formion. According to the Hellenic Navy, a fourth training pipeline may also be launched in anticipation of the future acquisition of a fourth frigate.

The second Kimon-class frigate, the HS Nearchos, launched in September 2024, is in an advanced stage of construction. (Picture source: Naval Group)

As part of the same program, the Greek Ministry of Defense is finalizing an agreement for a fourth Kimon-class frigate, expected to be named HS Themistocles, after another notable ancient Greek admiral. Negotiations between Athens and Paris are nearly complete, and the announcement may coincide with the presentation of Greece’s Long-Term Armament Procurement Program in parliament on April 2, 2025. Delivery of the fourth frigate is expected by the end of 2028, with its cost projected to slightly exceed €1 billion, in line with the previous units. The fourth frigate will also integrate the same Sylver A70 launchers, including the capability to launch the MdCN (Scalp Naval) cruise missile, capable of strikes at ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers.

Each vessel of the Belharra-class displaces approximately 4,500 tons, measures 122 meters in length and 17.7 meters in width, and is powered by a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system for a maximum speed of 27 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles. In addition to the Aster 30 and Scalp Naval missiles, the ships will carry Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles, MU90 torpedoes, a 76mm main gun, four torpedo tubes, and Sylena Mk1 decoy launchers with CANTO anti-torpedo countermeasures. A hangar and flight deck will accommodate either an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter or a Camcopter S-100 UAV.

The ships' core sensors include the Thales Sea Fire radar, a fixed-panel AESA system offering 360° air and surface surveillance, and the Kingklip hull sonar with CAPTAS-4 towed array for anti-submarine operations. Although the baseline configuration lacks an integrated ECM suite, work is underway to equip the frigates with a modern electronic warfare system, including for Kimon, Nearchos, and Formion. Additionally, the Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM) has been installed on HS Kimon and is undergoing testing. PSIM systems for HS Nearchos and HS Formion are in various stages of preparation.

Greece began negotiations with France in 2021 to procure these frigates and signed a formal agreement with Naval Group in March 2022 for three vessels, with an option for a fourth. The ships are named after notable ancient Greek admirals: Kimon, Nearchos, Formion, and the proposed Themistocles. These names were previously used for Charles F. Adams-class destroyers acquired from the United States and operated by the Hellenic Navy between 1991 and 2004. The Belharra-class frigates, known in Greek service as the FDI HN or Kimon-class, are a central element of the Hellenic Navy’s surface fleet modernization initiative, which was outlined at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2024.

The development of the Belharra-class frigates, also known as the Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI), began in response to a 2013 White Paper recommending a new generation of medium-sized, multi-role surface combatants. (Picture source: French Navy)

This strategy comprises six major areas: the FDI frigates, new corvettes, evaluation of the Constellation-class frigates through Foreign Military Sales (FMS), the Hydra (MEKO 200HN) mid-life upgrade, fast attack craft modernization, and development of special operations vessels such as the indigenous Agenor SOC. Within this framework, the Navy aims to standardize platforms to reduce operational costs, streamline logistics, and improve overall fleet availability. Planned corvette acquisitions involve evaluating several designs, with an emphasis on constructing at least two ships in Greek shipyards. The Hydra-class upgrade program is intended to extend the service life of these four multi-role frigates by at least 15 years through new systems and updated equipment. The Navy also plans to replace older FACM classes with up to nine new vessels and to refurbish existing patrol boats with modern weaponry and sensors.

The development of the Belharra-class frigates, also known as the Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI), began as part of France’s naval modernization efforts in response to a 2013 White Paper recommending a new generation of medium-sized, multi-role surface combatants. The program officially launched in 2015 and aimed to replace the aging La Fayette-class frigates. Naval Group was awarded the contract in April 2017 to construct five ships for the French Navy. The FDI HN program includes several differences from the French version, particularly in weapons fit and configuration. The French prototype, Amiral Ronarc’h, serves as the baseline for export models. Greece's decision to procure the FDI was influenced by the ship’s modular architecture, rapid delivery timeline, and compatibility with NATO systems, as well as its comprehensive armament and sensor suite. In 2024, production scheduling was adjusted so that vessels originally intended for the French Navy were reassigned to Greece, enabling earlier delivery.

France has faced some criticism in French defense circles for delivering to Greece Belharra frigates that are more heavily armed than the French Navy’s own vessels, as the French Amiral Ronarc’h-class ships are delivered without close-in weapon systems (CIWS), electronic countermeasure (ECM) systems, or RAM launchers. Greek vessels are also undergoing modifications to accommodate a future electronic warfare system, with work on its integration currently under planning in collaboration with Naval Group. The Belharra frigates are being constructed under a technology transfer agreement, with Greek companies contributing to the supply chain. Twenty-three contracts with Greek firms have already been signed, with ten more planned. Greek officials and Naval Group representatives have stated that this cooperation supports the European defense industrial base and contributes to job creation and skills development in Greece.