On May 23, 2024, at CNE 2024, a Navy Leaders Conference, Commodore Panagiotis Karavas, Deputy Director of the Armaments Directorate for the Hellenic Navy (HN), revealed new details for the imminent modernization of the Hellenic Navy’s surface fleet. Naval News attended his briefing and described the six objectives of the Fleet’s renewal: FDI Frigates, Corvettes, Constellation-class frigates, Hydra (MEKO 200 HN) upgrade program, fast attack missile craft (FACM), patrol boats, and special operations craft (SOC). In this article, we will delve into the upgrade program for the MEKO frigates, precisely describing what the HN plans to do with the equipment of these ships, specifically regarding the mission systems (weapon systems, combat management system, communications and sensors) and platform systems (propulsion and auxiliary).
We would like to reiterate that this program will be carried out by the consortium of TKMS and Thales (Thales Nederland) which were selected as the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), at a Greek shipyard which the consortium will select. The long overdue upgrade program which is referred as “Capability Upgrade” and not MLU indicating a less extensive work, is expected to begin in 2024-25 if an agreement is reached and to last about 7 years. Note that the overall MEKO 200 capability upgrade program, if executed in full, consists of a number of separate sub-programs such as the acquisition and integration of ESSM Block 2 SAM, the upgrade, overhaul and/or replacement of the engines (part of it has been already executed), the upgrade or overhaul of the mission and platform systems (the program that will be executed by TKMS and Thales), the upgrade of Phalanx CIWS to the latest configuration Block 1B Baseline 2 and the upgrade of the Mk45 naval gun system (Hydras are the only ships in the Fleet that carry a 5inch gun). Other sub-programs might be also carried out such as the installation of 12.7mm or 20mm RWS, C-UAV suite, and so on.
The Commodore stated that the MEKO 200 modernization aims to extend the service life of these four 30-year-old multi-role frigates by at least 15 years. This extension will be achieved through upgrades or new equipment installations at Greek shipyards, addressing any obsolescence issues with the onboard systems. Discussions with the TKMS and Thales consortium are ongoing. The Commodore estimates that it will take up to four years from the contract signing before the first modernized ship begins its trials.
Naval News reported months ago details on the Hydra upgrade program and particularly which systems will be replaced or installed, but this is the first time these details have been confirmed by an official representative. Nevertheless, the Commodore noted that he provided an indicative scope of work on what the HN aims to achieve with the program and the TKMS-Thales consortium, therefore there might be small changes. The mission systems which will be upgraded are the Raytheon SQS-56/DE 1160 sonar suite, both HMS and VDS, as well as the Thales TDS which will receive new binoculars and the four sextuple 6-tube SRBOC launchers which will receive new decoys (we assume that there will not be CANTO decoys due to the limited amount of tubes). Obsolete systems such as APECS II R-ECM and Telegon 10 C-ESM/COMINT systems more likely will be removed.
The mission/combat systems which will be replaced are the following:
- The two radars, DA-08 and MW-08, will be replaced by a single NS-110 4D rotating radar with integrated IFF, by Thales.
- The AR-700 R-ESM system will be replaced by SENTINEL, a variant of VIGILE system by Thales that also equips the new FDI frigates.
- One of the two existing navigation/surveillance radars, the BRIDGEMASTER will be replaced by SCANTER 6002 of Terma, while the more modern NAVI 4000 of Wärtsilä (Transas) will remain. Interestingly, Terma has confirmed on its website that Greece has already purchased four SCANTER 2602 radars for its frigates.
- The STACOS CMS will be replaced by the latest version of TACTICOS by Thales which will integrate (almost all) old and new systems.
- The two STIR FCR and the two CW transmitters will be replaced by two STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 FCR and CWITX solid state CWI transmitters by Thales.
The additional (new, as part of the equipment) systems integrated into the equipment are the following:
- L-ESM system which will be the NLWS from SAAB.
- AX680 automatic dependant surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system by Thales.
- A complete CCTV equipment consisting of a TV camera on the flight deck, a TV camera that will cover the VLS and four TV cameras that will cover every side of the ship. Such equipment has received already the frigate Hydra that operates in Red Sea.
The 117.5-meter ships will keep the existing MLT-TDR-10A EOS, the CIWS, the Mk45 Mod 2A gun, the AN/SLQ-25 NIXIE torpedo decoy system, the Mk48 Mod 5 (from the upgrade of Mod 2 in order to use ESSM) GMVLS for 16 ESSM SAM, the two Mk32 SVTTs, the Mk141 Harpoon Block 1C/G SSM launchers and the UAV video connector, unless new sub-programs are implemented.
Regarding the platform systems, there will be upgrades and replacements too. Systems and equipments which will be replaced include the RHIB launching system, the helicopter support system, IPMS, the converters, the chiller and freezer units and RTU. There will be upgrades to the ER cooling system, CPP, reduction gears, dours-hatches, LM-2500 engines, sewage treatment plant, fin stabilizers, etc.
