A month after the technical launch of the first Greek FDI HN frigate Kimon (F601) from its dry dock at Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, France, the final structural part of the superstructure, was fitted on the ship, the PSIM integrated mast. Τhe entry into service of Kimon in 2025 will mark the beginning of a new era for Greece’s naval capabilities as several characteristics of the new frigate are introduced for the first time in the Navy, of which among them is this specific mast.
The Naval Group’s mast is an independent module that is produced seperately from the hull and well ahead of the sea trials: it can be powered-up, test or even used for training while on shore. The unique 150-tonnes and 42m high integrated steel mast is reported as Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM), and integrates the latest edition of SETIS CMS, the ship’s Command Information Centre (CIC), a planning room designed to embark a mission command staff for flagship duties, one of the two digital data processing centres (the other one is placed in the hull aft for survivability reasons) and houses the majority of the above-water sensors of the ship, enabling permanent 360° surveillance.
Specifically, the PSIM will feature the Thales SEAFIRE fully digital 4D AESA S-band solid-state GaN multi-function radar (MFR), alongside the Thales BLUEGATE (TSA 6000 E-scan IFF) combined interrogator/transponder Mode 5/S, both equipping for the first time a French and a Greek Navy’s ship. The SEAFIRE MFR is equipped with four fixed (4FF) AESA panels to provide full 360° coverage in azimuth and 90° in elevation, supporting the ships’ simultaneous defence against threats ranging from conventional to asymmetric or hyper-velocity. It is designed to perform a range of tasks simultaneously, including volume search, low altitude surveillance, air and surface target tracking, environment mapping, fire control, full uplink support for ASTER SAM, and kill assessment. Its 300km air coverage can detect and track more than 800 objects simultaneously without saturation and it provides surface coverage up to the horizon.
Like the SEAFIRE MFR, the TSA 6000 next generation interrogator with its fixed flat-panel antennas placed above the SEAFIRE’s panels, is a prime illustration of the frigate’s innovative edge. The navigation and LPI radars and the two Safran PASEO-XLR naval optronic identification and fire control systems are also located on the mast.
The mast also houses a 360° short range day/night camera control system by Bertin Technologies which provides tactical visual situation, alerts and decision aids, allowing a small team to optimise the use of all sensors and effectors, including both RWS and NLW systems, and to fight against small and close air and surface threats, including non-conventional threats such as boobytrapped boats. This EO and IR package by Bertin Technologies is part of the dedicated asymmetric warfare CIC, the Digital Combat Bridge (DCB) linked to SETIS CMS, that is introduced for the first time on a French Navy’s platform, and will be located in a room right behind the navigation bridge with the task to provide inner-layer protection.
The two major components of an electronic warfare (EW) suite will be integrated in the mast; the SENTINEL R-ESM and the ALTESSE-H C-ESM & COMINT, both systems of Thales. The mast will accomodate also the communications, interconnection and regular data link infrastructure (Tactical Data Links, satellite communications, UAV antennas, etc.).
