Greek and Italian Defence Ministers sign agreement formally activating Greece’s acquisition of two FREMM frigates, with the ships scheduled to enter Hellenic Navy service in 2028 and 2029 respectively.
Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias travelled to Rome on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, where he met with his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto. The two ministers discussed the latest developments in the international and regional security environment, with particular emphasis on European defence, the strategic situation in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans, and the need to further strengthen defence cooperation between Greece and Italy.
During the meeting, Dendias and Crosetto oversaw the signing of an Implementing Arrangement between the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic, formally activating the programme for the acquisition of two Italian Bergamini-class (FREMM) frigates. The Implementing Arrangement follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Declaration of Intent concerning the acquisition of the Italian FREMM frigates, which were signed by Dendias and Crosetto in La Spezia, Italy, on September 29, 2025.
The Implementing Arrangement was signed by the General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence and the corresponding Italian Directorate for Armaments. The signing was also attended, on the Greek side, by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), General Dimitrios Houpis, and the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff (HNGS), Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN.
The agreement finalises the legal, financial and technical terms for the acquisition of the two FREMM frigates and sets out their transfer schedule, initial and follow-on support (FOS) arrangements, and provisions for Greek industrial participation, including the involvement of Greek shipyards in maintenance and the integration of new systems.
The two frigates are Carlo Bergamini (F-590), the lead ship of the class, which entered service with the Italian Navy in May 2013 and is scheduled to be transferred to the Hellenic Navy in the first half of 2028, and Virginio Fasan (F-591), the second ship of the class, which entered service in December 2013 and is scheduled for transfer in the first half of 2029.
FREMM and FDI: Building a Powerful Hellenic Navy Fleet
The two frigates are becoming available as the Italian Navy invests in the next-generation FREMM EVO variant, creating an opportunity for Greece to acquire the ships at an exceptionally low price. According to informed sources, the total cost for both frigates, more likely without ammunition, is expected to be below €500 million.
More frigates of the class could become available to Greece in the future, as Athens is reportedly interested in acquiring at least two additional units. A larger fleet of FREMMs would help maximise the investment in the type, particularly given that the ships introduce Italian-origin electronic systems and some weapon systems such as the guns (OTO 127/64LW, OTO 25mm KBA and OTO 76/STRALES) or the decoy-launching systems (SCLAR-H and SLAT), that are new to the Hellenic Navy.
At just 13 years old, both 144-meter multi-mission frigates have significant service life remaining. Each vessel features twin helicopter hangars and ample weight and space margins for future upgrades.
Like the Hellenic Navy’s Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates, the Italian FREMMs are armed with ASTER 30 surface-to-air missiles launched from two eight-cell SYLVER A50 vertical launch systems (16 cells total). The ASW-configured Virginio Fasan features a CAPTAS-4 variable-depth sonar (VDS), matching the sonar suite selected for the Greek FDI frigates.
The OTOMAT/TESEO anti-ship missiles currently fitted to both frigates are expected to be replaced by EXOCET missiles from the Greek inventory. Alternatively, HARPOON missiles from the decommissioned Elli-class (Kortenaer) frigates could be temporarily installed as an interim solution. The two ships are also expected to receive new communications equipment and the CENTAUR C-UAS, while the installation of a CAPTAS-4 VDS on Carlo Bergamini, which is configured for general-purpose (GP) operations, is also being considered.
By the beginning of 2030, Greece is expected to operate four FDI HN frigates, all upgraded to the Standard 2++ configuration, alongside the two FREMM frigates and, provided the programme proceeds smoothly, all four or a number of modernised Hydra-class (MEKO 200HN) frigates. The fleet will also include two or three remaining Elli-class frigates.
Update 1
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, stated:
‘The progress of the transfer process also opens up new opportunities for industrial synergies between Fincantieri and the Greek industrial ecosystem, with positive spillover effects throughout the supply chain. Furthermore, the entry of FREMM frigates into the Hellenic Navy marks a first step toward broader integration of skills, technologies, and industrial capabilities among the countries operating the platform, fostering knowledge sharing and the development of further technological advancements.'”
