Greece Takes Delivery Of First French-built Frigate, Marks ‘New Era’ For Hellenic Navy

Greece has taken delivery of the first of four advanced frigates ordered from France, a move officials said signals a new phase for the Hellenic Navy.

The handover ceremony for the F601 Kimon was held on Thursday in the western French port city of Lorient, with Greece’s Defence Minister, Nikos Dendias, in attendance.

“We are witnessing proof of the strategic relationship between Greece and France that also bears my signature,” Dendias said. “It is not just the delivery of an exceptional ship, but the entry of the Armed Forces and the Navy into a new era.”

Dendias thanked the French government and described bilateral relations between Athens and Paris as “very warm.”

Greece agreed in September 2021 to purchase three FDI Belharra-class frigates under a €3billion defence package. An option for a fourth vessel was approved by the Greek parliament in the summer and formally agreed with France in November.

During the ceremony, the Greek flag was raised aboard the Kimon. The frigate is expected to be fully integrated into the Hellenic Navy and become operational in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean in 2026.

Speaking in Brussels, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the handover as “a moment that should make all Greeks proud.”

“I am at the European Council today, but I believe that the heart of Greece beats a few kilometres from here, at the Lorient shipyard, where the Greek flag is being raised on the first of the four Belharra frigates,” he said.

The Kimon is scheduled to sail to Brest, where its weapons systems—including Exocet Block III anti-ship missiles and Aster 30 air-defence missiles—will be installed. It is expected to arrive at the Salamina Naval Base near Athens in early 2026.