Greece is moving toward a new phase of defence cooperation with Italy, this time focused on mine warfare capabilities.
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, during his visit to Venice and talks with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto, discussed the possible transfer of two second-hand Italian minehunters to the Hellenic Navy.
The move comes as Athens seeks to strengthen one of the smallest and most vulnerable parts of its fleet, while Italy itself is beginning to replace its older mine-countermeasure vessels with a new generation of ships.
Greece’s requirement is becoming urgent
The Hellenic Navy’s Mine Warfare Command currently operates just two minehunters: EVNIKI M-61 and EVROPI M-62.
Both have more than three decades of service behind them.
That leaves Greece with a very limited mine-countermeasure force for a maritime environment that includes the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean, major ports, energy corridors, submarine cables and other critical infrastructure.
Mine warfare is often overlooked compared with frigates, submarines and fighter aircraft, but in a crisis it can quickly become decisive.
A handful of naval mines can block access to ports, disrupt commercial shipping and constrain fleet movements.
Focus on the Lerici and Gaeta classes
Attention is turning to Italy’s Lerici- and Gaeta-class minehunters.
The Gaeta class is an evolution of the earlier Lerici design, with most units entering service during the 1990s.
Italy is now gradually preparing to replace those vessels as its new mine-countermeasure programme moves forward.
No specific hulls have yet been officially identified for Greece, but the timing makes a potential transfer increasingly realistic.
Italy is already building the next generation
Italy has already launched its Cacciamine di Nuova Generazione, or new-generation mine-countermeasure programme.
The first contract is worth around €1.6 billion for five vessels, with options for three more.
That equates to roughly €320 million per ship when the wider package is included.
As the new vessels begin entering service toward the end of the decade, older Lerici and Gaeta units will progressively become available for retirement or transfer.
That creates a window for Greece.
Why these ships matter
One of the key features of both classes is their glass-reinforced plastic hull.
GRP significantly reduces magnetic signature, a major advantage when operating close to mines designed to detonate in response to a ship’s magnetic field.
Their mission profile combines sonar search, identification of suspicious underwater objects and neutralization using remotely operated underwater vehicles or specialist mine-disposal systems.
These capabilities now have added relevance because mine-countermeasure platforms can also contribute to the surveillance of undersea cables, pipelines and seabed infrastructure.
The acquisition price may be low – the modernization bill will not be
If Italy transfers the ships at a symbolic or very low price, that would not mean the programme itself is cheap.
The real cost would come from returning the vessels to full operational condition.
Likely work would include hull inspection, machinery overhaul, generators, thrusters, sonar servicing or replacement, refurbishment of mine-warfare ROVs, modernization of command-and-control systems, navigation upgrades and NATO-compatible communications.
Crew training, spare parts and long-term technical support would also have to be included.
A realistic range: €5–8 million per vessel
Using comparable European second-hand minehunter transfers as a benchmark, a realistic estimate for refurbishment could be around €5–8 million per ship, assuming the vessels are transferred in reasonable condition.
For two ships, the full package could therefore fall in the region of €12–20 million.
That figure remains indicative rather than official.
The final cost will depend heavily on the condition of the ships, the level of modernization requested by the Hellenic Navy and whether Athens buys several years of logistical and maintenance support.
New-build alternatives are in a completely different price category
The appeal of used minehunters becomes clearer when compared with new construction.
Italy’s own new-generation programme is worth around €320 million per ship on average.
Other European programmes are also measured in the hundreds of millions per vessel once mission systems, unmanned platforms, support packages and infrastructure are included.
For Greece, two refurbished Italian vessels could therefore function as a relatively low-cost interim solution while a longer-term replacement plan is developed.
The real competitor is time
Price is not the only factor.
Delivery time may be even more important.
A new mine-countermeasure vessel requires years of construction, trials, integration and crew preparation.
A second-hand vessel can potentially enter service much faster if the inspection and upgrade process is well organized.
For a fleet that currently has only two operational minehunters, that difference matters.
Britain could also enter the picture
Italy is not necessarily the only option.
The United Kingdom could become another potential source, particularly because Greece already has experience with British mine-warfare vessels.
London has transferred retired Sandown-class minehunters to allies in recent years, including Romania, after refurbishment work.
If suitable vessels become available, Britain could theoretically submit a competing proposal.
France, Belgium and the Netherlands also have retiring fleets
There are also possible opportunities among the Tripartite-class fleets of France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
However, several of those vessels are already earmarked for transfer to countries such as Bulgaria and Ukraine.
That reduces the number of potentially available hulls.
Still, the broader European transition toward new mine-warfare platforms means that a temporary market for second-hand vessels is emerging.
Spain is a less likely option
Spain operates the newer Segura-class minehunters, commissioned mainly between 1999 and 2005.
Madrid, however, is modernizing these ships rather than preparing to retire them.
That makes immediate availability less likely.
Dendias’ public signal may also be aimed at other allies
Dendias’ public reference to acquiring two Italian minehunters can be read in another way.
It effectively signals to allied navies that Greece is actively looking for two mine-countermeasure vessels.
That could encourage alternative offers.
The more credible proposals Athens receives, the stronger its negotiating position becomes on price, support, modernization and delivery schedule.
Another naval track with Italy after the FREMMs
The political context is also significant.
Greece and Italy have already deepened naval cooperation through discussions over the acquisition of Italian FREMM frigates of the Bergamini class.
If the minehunter deal also moves forward, Italy could become one of Greece’s most important sources of second-hand naval platforms over the second half of the decade.
That would broaden the bilateral defence relationship beyond major surface combatants and into specialized naval capabilities.
Why mine warfare matters more now
The growing strategic importance of undersea infrastructure has changed the value of mine-countermeasure forces.
The Eastern Mediterranean is becoming more crowded with:
energy projects, submarine cables, data links and strategic maritime routes.
A navy that can survey the seabed, detect underwater threats and clear mines has a role not only in wartime but also in protecting national and allied infrastructure.
That makes the Greek requirement far more important than its low public profile suggests.
The bigger picture
Two Italian minehunters would not be a glamorous procurement.
But they could be one of the most operationally useful.
Greece currently has only two ageing vessels in the role.
Italy is beginning to replace its own mine-warfare fleet.
That overlap creates an opportunity.
If Athens can secure two ships at a low transfer price and keep modernization costs under control, it could gain two critical naval assets in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of a new-build programme.
Source: pagenews.gr