The first FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy, HS Kimon, started her first sea trials on May 21st in Lorient. The ship capitalized on the experience gained during the sea trials of Amiral Ronarc’h, the first of class for the French Navy.
Naval Group press release
Developed to be operated by the Hellenic Navy, the FDI HS Kimon has begun her sea trials from the Naval Group site of Lorient, Brittany. The trials will be carefully attended by the Hellenic Navy representatives.
Thanks to the experience gained during the Amiral Ronarc’h sea trials, the trials of HS Kimon will be performed much faster. The first period at sea will be mainly dedicated to test the platform systems including propulsion and navigation systems. The second period at sea, in a few weeks, will be dedicated to Combat systems and endurance at sea.
2025 marks a key milestone for the FDI programme, with sea trials and the upcoming delivery of the first frigate for the Hellenic Navy, along with the imminent launching of the third vessel, HS Formion. By 2026, the Hellenic Navy will operate three first-rank, multi-mission FDI frigates.
An all warfare domain frigate combat ready against current and emerging threats
Designed for first-rank navies aiming at ensuring their sovereignty, the FDI is a combat- ready ship capable of handling current and emerging threats. A multipurpose and resilient high-sea vessel, she will enable the Hellenic Navy to ensure its maritime superiority in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea thanks to her high-level capabilities in all areas of naval combat: anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and special forces projection, with unique capabilities against asymmetric threats. She also benefits from the latest Thales innovations in radar, sonar and electronic warfare.
Designed and produced using latest-generation digital tools, they are also the first frigates to benefit from an onboard digital architecture that will enable them to adapt continuously to technological and operational developments, enabling them to cope with constantly evolving threats. Her architecture and digital infrastructures guarantee a growth potential ensuring adaptation to future threats throughout her life, with incremental upgrades rather than costly Mid Life Upgrade.
The FDI is also natively protected against the cyber threat, with a redundant IT architecture based around two data centres that host, in a virtualised manner, a large proportion of the ship’s software. In terms of operational innovation, the FDI is inaugurating the concept of a gateway dedicated to combat asymmetric threats. This system will make it possible to coordinate and lead the fight against small, close air and surface threats.
Strongly armed (MBDA Exocet MM40 B3c anti-surface and Aster anti-air missiles, RAM system, MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes, artillery), the FDI for the Hellenic Navy embarks simultaneously a helicopter and a capacity of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). She also benefits from the expertise of Thales, MBDA, and all our other partners and subcontractors.
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)
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
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Naval News comments
The commencement of sea trials for HS Kimon marks a significant milestone for the Hellenic Navy, heralding a new era of modernization. After nearly three decades since the delivery of the last Hydra-class (MEKO 200HN) frigate, Salamis, the Fleet is now poised to welcome a next-generation, heavily armed frigate.
Originally slated for delivery in March 2025, Kimon’s handover has experienced a slight delay—an expected occurrence for ships of entirely new designs. The construction timeline has been notably efficient: the first steel was cut in December 2021, she was laid down in October 2022, and the official launching ceremony took place in October 2023. The frigate is expected to be delivered to the Navy before the end of 2025. This rapid progress is particularly impressive given the global context of delays in similar new ship programs, such as the Type 26, MMSC, Constellation-class frigates and others.
According to the contract, a series of specialized sea trials—including live-fire exercises and combat system sensor evaluations—will be conducted within eight (8) months following the ship’s delivery. These trials, aimed at validating the operational performance of the Hellenic Navy Frigate Combat System, will span no more than 20 days.
Greece is expected to order a fourth frigate soon, bringing the total number of new vessels to four—all scheduled for delivery before the end of the decade. These Hellenic Navy frigates will feature enhanced armament and advanced electronic systems compared to their French counterparts. Furthermore, the last three ships will be upgraded to a new standard by the decade’s end, incorporating cruise missiles. Currently, Kimon is outfitted with expanded armament, including an additional 16 SYLVER A50 VLS cells, a RAM CIWS, and SYLENA AAW decoy launch systems (DLS). However, full installation and integration of these systems with the SETIS combat management system (CMS)—bringing the ships up from the “Standard 1” to “Standard 2” configuration—will be completed by 2027 for the first two vessels. The third frigate, Formion, will be delivered in its final “Standard 2” configuration in 2026.
