Naval Group’s surface vessels shipyard located in Lorient in western France has launched the third FDI frigate ‘HS Formion’ meant for the Hellenic Navy on May 28th, 2025, and has installed her PSIM mast the next day. This is the fourth FDI-type frigate launched since 2022.
Eight months after the second Greek frigate, it is already the turn of the third sistership to take to the water for the first time, joining the yard’s docks so that outfitting work can continue. However, no break was given to Naval Group’s workers as the next day on May 29th, the frigate has welcomed her PSIM mast.
The PSIM mast is one of, if not the most critical part of the ship. Weighing 150 tonnes and standing 42 meters tall, the integrated steel mast, known as the Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM), incorporates the ship’s Command Information Center (CIC) with the latest version of the SETIS Combat Management System (CMS), a planning room for mission command staff during flagship operations, and one of the two digital data processing centers (the other is located aft in the hull for survivability). The mast also houses the majority of the ship’s above-water sensors, providing continuous 360° surveillance.
This is a major achievement for Naval Group, as it is the first time that two such complex operations have been carried out back-to-back in such a short space of time. For the record, the second FDI HN ‘HS Nearchos’ had to wait for one month after her launching to see her PSIM integration operation. This demonstrates the extent to which Naval Group has further stepped up the production rate of its surface vessels.
It is indeed a busy time for the shipyard as it reaching its delivering pace of one frigate every six months. Naval Group has just begun sea trials on the first Hellenic frigate ‘HS Kimon’, due to be delivered to the Greek Navy before the end of the year, and is working in parallel to finalize the second. By 2026, the Hellenic Navy would have taken delivery all of its three multi-mission FDI frigates.
The yard is also finalizing trials on the first FDI-type, ‘Amiral Ronarc’h’ meant for the French Navy (Marine Nationale). The latter as first of the series receives extended set of trials and will be delivered to the French Navy later on. She will be transferred to her homeport in Brest from the Autumn this year. The second FDI meant for the French Navy is already at the assembly stage.
‘HS Formion’ represents the last FDI ordered by the Greek Ministry of Defense. However, Naval Group does not intend to stop there, as a fourth one is already in option, and hopes to activate it very soon. During his visit to the shipyard in September 2024, the Greek Minister of Defense stated his intention to formalize the order for the fourth Kimon-class FDI. But even more ambitious, as already reported by Naval News, the French shipyard has presented the Greek military and political leadership with a proposal to expand the Hellenic Navy’s fleet. Naval Group is reportedly pushing for three additional frigates, this time to be built locally in Greece.
In addition to Greece, Naval Group is among four countries down-selected for an ASW frigate requirement in Norway. Naval Group is pitching the FDI to the Nordic country, as well as to Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
FDI HN technical specifications:
- Displacement: 4,500 tons
- Length: approx. 122 meters
- Width: 18 meters
- Maximum speed: 27 knots
- Aviation facilities: 10-ton class helicopter, VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
FDI HN main armament:
- 32 Aster missiles developed by MBDA
- 8 Exocet MM40 B3c missiles developed by MBDA
- RAM missiles
- 76 mm gun
- 4 torpedo tubes with MU 90 torpedoes developed by Naval Group
- 2 decoy launchers with CANTO countermeasures developed by Naval Group
