“Kimon” hits the water: Greece enters a new naval era with French flair and strategic message

THE DELIVERY OF FFG F-601 “KIMON” is more than a military ceremony; it is a moment of high political and strategic symbolism. Nearly three years after the contracts were signed, the Hellenic Navy takes delivery of its first French FDI-class frigate, marking Greece’s entry into a new era of naval power and technological superiority.

THE NAMING AND FLAG-HOISTING CEREMONY took place in Lorient, France, in the presence of Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, accompanied by Deputy Minister Thanasis Davakis, Chief of HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, and Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras. The event also included a high-level meeting with his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin.

NIKOS DENDIAS SET THE TONE, emphasizing the strategic significance: “We are witnessing proof of the strategic relationship between Greece and France. This is not just the delivery of an exceptional ship, but the entry of the Armed Forces and the Hellenic Navy into a new era.” He expressed gratitude to the French government and described Greek-French relations as “extremely warm.”

“KIMON” IS MORE THAN A FRIGATE, designed for first-class naval operations. It is an open-sea combat-ready platform capable of countering current and emerging threats, providing the Hellenic Navy with air defense, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and power projection capabilities, including resilience against asymmetric threats.

TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY stems from cutting-edge Thales innovations in radar, sonar, and electronic warfare, along with a fully digital onboard architecture. FDI frigates are the first to incorporate a design that allows continuous technological adaptation without costly mid-life upgrades, ensuring operational relevance for decades.

CYBERSECURITY IS BUILT IN, with redundant IT architecture and two data centers hosting much of the ship’s software virtually. Operational innovation includes a dedicated computing gateway for countering asymmetric threats, enabling coordinated responses to small, close-range aerial and surface threats.

THE ARMAMENT OF “KIMON” IS IMPRESSIVE AND DETERRENT, including 32 Aster missiles, 8 Exocet MM40 B3c missiles, RAM system, 76mm gun, MU90 torpedoes, CANTO countermeasure launchers, and the simultaneous operation of a helicopter and UAV. This makes it a fully capable naval combat platform.

ON THE POLITICAL LEVEL, THE FRIGATE’S DELIVERY strengthens the Greek-French axis amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece sends a clear signal of strategic investment in alliances, deterrence, and technological superiority while European defense seeks strategic autonomy.

IN A FEW DAYS, “KIMON” WILL TRAVEL TO BREST to receive its full armament and is expected to arrive at Salamis Naval Base in early 2026. By then, the Greek flag will fly not just on a new ship, but on a clear symbol of power, readiness, and strategic confidence.